Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-03
ODD BRAND OF ECONOMY
is DISPLAYED IN HOUSE
Increases for Three District EN-.
ployes Voted Down.
MR.. CANNON WAKES SARCASTIC
Declares He Favors Even Larger
Salaries for Representatives.
"Old Men" Provision Not
Reached.

although the House committee on ap-
lpiopiiatlons proposes to throw out the
ehpioyes or the government at the ago
OF slxty-hve years, to cut them down
without any recompense for their lost
positions, members of this same COM
mlttee argued strongly on the floor OF
the House today to retain the provision
in the legislative bill, which is now un
der discussion, allowing every represent
atiVe In Congress 20 cents mile for
his travelling expenses both going and
coming to Congress, a total of 40 cents
mile in all
Representative Fitzgerald, chairman OF
the committee. who was instrumental
later in the afternoon in holding back a
few dollars for increases in the salaries
OF three citizens of the District of Column
bia. argued very strongly for the $4,000
asked for in the legislative bin for the
! purpose of paying representatives for
travelling at the rate of % cents a mile.
At the time The Stars report closed
| the provision in the bill for the throwing
out of aged clerks seemed to be several
hours distant. The bill was brought up
shortly after IL o'clock to be discussed
under the five-minute rule.
Jealous of Senate Salaries.
1t became apparent Immediately that
there would be discussion somewhere
on almost every paragraph of the long
document, and the first difference of opin-
ion was made evident when several rep
resentatives seemed to display a little
jealousy over the fact that the bill car
| ried larger salaries for certain positions
| on the Senate side of the Capitol than
for corresponding positions on the House
side.
| Representative Fitzgerald and Repre-
sentative Johnson. the latter In charge of
the bill, opposed most vigorously tho
| amendment by Representative Page of
| North Carolina, who proposed that the
be cut to ) cents mile. Repre-
sentative Cannon, former Speaker. a
member of the appropriations COM
mittee. was very frank in asking that
sentative Sherley Of Kentucky. also
| a member of the appropriation COM
| mittee, suggested that Representatives
be allowed only their actual travelling ex-
penses. but following the usual practice
Of years past, the House voted down
| these two suggestions of economy: and
| then proceeded to economize by refusing
| to pay night operator In the Capitol as
much as a day operator. by refusing to
pay an assistant engineer in the House
| office building any more than a laborer,
and by requiring the clerk for the COM
| mittee on mileage to do tie work of that
| committee for nothing.
Five-Minute Debate Limit.
| The legislative, judicial and executive
bill was taken up by the House shortly
before 80 am. today. Debate on 1t
was under the five-mnute rule.
| The bill was read in part, and discus
sion started on tho list of salaries for
the Senate employees.
Representative Johnson said the COM
mittee on appropriations did not feel
| justified in making great cuts in the Sem
ate salary list, which in the bill totals
$31S,640. The committee had been asked
| for $3.50 900.
Representative Austin, Tennessee, asked
| why senator's secretaries are allowed
S2,UOO year, which is more than that
allowed in the House.
1t is not Justice" said Mr.. Austin. He
also said that senator's secretaries at
900; senator's stenographers. at S1,3U
| or 81, 400 when the House employees are
at lower figure. is proposition for
| considerable thought.
Items Objected To.
The items telegraph operator. $500"
and telegraph page. $780," in the Vice
Presidents office were objected to by
House cut out two telegraph operators
| last year. Representative Johnson said
the committee did not feel justified in
reducing the Vice Presidents force.
Representative Fitzgerald. chairman of
| the appropriations committee. said the
Senate had said it required these en-
ployes.
Can YOU conceive any reason why d
telegraph operator should be furnished to
| the Vice President any more than TO the
| Speaker of the House?" asked Represent
ative Garner.
..The Senate says there is a need for
one," replied Representative Fitzgerald.
He also said he had seen many repre-
sentatiSes severely criticise the personnel
| of the Senate employees, but that when
the representatives had become senator's
| they invariably changed their minds.
Favors Plenty Of Clerks.
Representative Mann, Illinois. said 1t
was fair to show that the Vice Presi-
dents Office had $3.50 under it and the
Speakers Office had more than $4,000.
Il looked into some of the Senate COM
mittees and found some of them have
had no bills referred to them. consequent
ly have had no business to tarnsact."
Representative Mann said many COM
mittee clerks are employed in handling
business between. a senator and his con-
stituency His argument was for plenty
of clerks for senators, so that the busi-
ness of the legislators could be handled
with dispatch.
Argues for More Help.
Representative Olmsted OF Pennsylvania
argued for more clerical assistance all
around. No one in this discussion made
any reference to economy in the pay
rolls of the clerks WHO assist legislators in
their daily tasks. Representative Page Of
fered an amendment to the clause ap-
propriating $154.OOO for the mileage OF
members of the House. He proposed ;
cents a mile as sufficient, the total being
SIS. 500 Me said the House IL not entitled
to give its members money for purpose
for which 1t Is not spent.