The Washington herald., 1912-01-14

House and object to an appropriation OF
this character, an appropriation intended
to facilitate the work OF examining ele-
vators in the District and guarding men.
women, and children against injury or
death. II had been responsible for such
injuries by such means, / would think
about 1t TO the day Of my death"
Heated Retort Made.
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Madden's re-
marks. the Kentucky member, referring
to Mr.. Madden's opposition to the bfli
increasing the salaries for crossing po-
licemen. said he was doing better than
the Illinois member. because, while the
latter, In the previous occasion. sought
to save money for the corporations. he
was trying to save money for the people.
Il take exception TO the remarks OF the
gentleman from Kentocky," answered the
Illinois member, rising.
Take your exception outside" yelled
the Kentuckian across the chamber. You
can see me there and settle your excep-
tion at any time. Go outside now and
starting for the door-"I'll be with you"
At this point the gavel, which had been
going like trip hammer. finally made it.
self heard above the din. and when the
House had again auieted the Kentuckian
announced the withdrawal Of his point Of
order.
Amendment by BurIeson.
An important amendment was offered
by Representative Burleson. OF Texas.
chairman OF the subcommittee on ap-
propriations, TO the item for the building
inspectors once Mr.. Burleson's amend
ment. which was passed without d.
vision, would take from the District gov
eminent to be turned into the Treasury
one-haR OF the revenues OF the building
inspectors once. Under the present law.
all OF these fees accrue TO the District
Claiming that the Democrats are trying
to make the United States government
meaner than the closest" OF private en-
ployers. as far a. salaries are concerned.
Representative Cooper. OF Wisconsin.
singled out an Item calling for the EN-
ployment OF messengers IN the assessor 8
ONCE at $50 a month for his attack.
Mr.. Burleson replied that the govern
ment would pay as much for any service
as that service was worth. but would
not pay any compensation In excess.
Mr.. Burleson agreed that so a month IS
a low compensation, bun that II other
for that price he would oppose paying
more.
For Cut-thrOat Competition.
Mr.. Cooper said this was putting the
government in the position OF creating q
cut-throat competition and pronting
thereby. The colloquy resulted In a short
speech by Representative Berger, In
which the latter congratulated himself
on having learned at last the position
of the Democratic party on the wage
question.
In other words" said the only Social
ist member, you want 20 do as bad or
worse by your people than the worst
private employer does" Mr.. Berger In
troduced an amendment increasing the
salaries OF messengers from $50 TO 80
a month. The amendment was knocked
out on a point OF order. From that time
on Mr.. Berger introduced similar amend
ments whenever the question OF compen-
sation for messengers came up.
In the course OF crosShTe between
Representatives Cooper and BuTleson.
the latter charged the Republicans with
trying TO force increases in salaries by
means OF "buncombe." Mr.. Cooper re-
piled that to his knowledge, there is
no greater past master In the art Of
buncombe than the distinguished gen.
tleman from Texas.
Sims Attacks system.
Representative Sims. OF Tennessee.
suggested that the Federal government
seemed to be ''an orphan or q neglected
child" so far as the discussion was con-
cerned. The whole trouble" he said.
"Iies in this Illogical. unreasonable. and
unjust half-and-haIf proposition.
Chairman Fitzgerald, OF the Appropria-
tions Committee. referred to the fact
that the press OF the District had criti-
cised the committee for refusing 20 rec
ommend increases OF salaries for en-
ployes OF the local government. He de-
ciared that in 1907 Congress. by special
had increased the salaries
of policemen and frcmen and school
teachers and put them on an adequate
scale OF compensation.
More than that" he said. "'the Dis
trict bin for the last five years has been
District employees and in creating new
places In 1905, 131 new ofices we're Gre
ated at a cost Of Se40l9. and ninety sala-
ries were increased at a cost OF 81, 40.
In 1909, ninety-three new ofices were Gre
ated at a cost Of $50, ,o6O and sixty-eight
salaries were increased at a cost of
s., ,97s. In 1910. I29 new ofices were ere
ated at cost Of Sll0.7ss. and forty-fve
salaries were increased at a cost of
81. .ss2 In 1911, sixty-one new Offices were
created at a cost Of $56,2iO, and IO7 sala-
In 1872 the e--cnt year, ninety
new ofices were created at cost OF
s5s,77L and forty-six salaries were in
creased at q cost OF F,sT5.
6I3 New Omces.
Altogether 513 new Offices have been
created during the last i've years, at a
cost OF s5S2.Ss2, and s5s salaries increased
at a cost of $4s,Sl1."
Are any decreases provided for in
this bill?" inquired Representative Lo-
beck. Of Nebraska, a member OF the
District Committee.
Yes" replied Mr.. Fitzgerald. "the SAL
ary Of the keeper OF the pound Is re-
duced from $500 TO Sl.5oO. and there il
a satisfactory reason for that -Four
times the Commissioners or the District
that this salary be re-
duced. Then the poundmaster died, a
new one was appointed. and the COM
missioners did not recommend redue-
ton this year. We thought. however,
In view of their repeated recommends
tons. that the compensation OF the
be reduced, that We might
safely do il in this bill. Most of the
employees OF the District government are
we'll paid. Some OF them possibly are not
compensated. The thing to
do now Is to eliminate extravagances
Then there will be time enough TO talk
lbout a general readjustment OF pay
Mr.. Burleson insisted on his point OF
order against the Berger amendment and
/ was held out Of order.
Corporation COunseTs salary.
The item providing for the salary OF
he corporation counsel brought out
Ipirited debate, as Representative Fow-