Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-01

Making total appropriations of
S3o,44o, 1920, the legislative, ex-
ecutive and judicial appropriation
bill was reported to the House
from the appropriations commit
tee today, after having been
prepared by subcommittee of
which Representative Joseph
Johnson OF South Carolina is
chairman. The bill makes a net
reduction Of I4I salaries in the
government departments in Wash
lngton. 1t carries 69e salaries less
than were asked for by the de-
partments in the estimates, and IS
less than the estimates by ST.
IS4,oSo
There are striking features in
the bill which will make it remen-
bered in Washington for long
time. In one department scores
OF employees are left without posi-
tions, in another dozens are added.
Pension Clerks Are Dropped.
Most sweeping OF all the de-
partmental changes are proposed
Tor the pension bureau, where a
complete reorganization is de-
manded and I'll employees are
dropped Iifty-six are dropped
from the Post Office Department
and 2o from the census bureau;
II employees will be added to gov
ernment rolls for the new Wash.
ington post Office, and 22 new en-
ployes will be taken on in the De
partment of Labor
Although thousand dollars a year II
added to the salaries Of six assistant at
torneys general. an unusual reduction is
authorized in the case of the salary Of
500 is Topped from the ordinary amount
of 5000: and the superintendent of the
money order division, responsible posi-
ton, hitherto provided for at $3.50. is
placed in the bill at $2.7
While the bill attempts to settle the
question of mileage for senators, repre-
the appropriation of actual travelling ex-
,,nIy in, of H.
cents a-mile round-trip allowances.
which have caused so much caustic critl-
ciSnn by the economy crowd recently.
ii is expected that fight on the bill will
arise over the addition to the pie
of four messengers at 500 a
month for the committee post offices,
a two-thCusand-dollar clerk to the COM
mittee on election of President, Vice
President and representatives, an add!-
tional two-thousand dollar clerk to the
roads committee and a seven hundred
dollar "janitor'' for the same
committee. Republicans in the House
believe that this is pure and genuine old
ia ashiuned political pile. land claim that
there is absolutely no, necessity for any
of the employees except to reward faithful
political henchInen.
Lack Of Price Uniformity.
\ sweeping order Regarding the pur-
chase of typewriting machines is. found
in the bill The report to the House
is, in effect, a criticism Of "a lack OF
method in purchasing these loffice neces-
sites, and q statement is presented
showing that various government bur
reaus and officials purchase machines
at figures providing thai one bureau
scarcely knows what another bureau
is doing in the way of getting prices.
The bill creates a central purchasing
system for typewriting machines which
will prevent one department from pay
ing a much higher price than another
department, as at present.
4 modern fireproof building for the
census bureau is provided for in the
BILL by allowing the Department OF
Commerce to lease a proper structure.
The report to the House is one of the
most comprehensive and self-eSplana-
.ory documents of. the kind ever seen
n Congress. 1t was prepared by James
:. Courts, clerk, and ,Marcellus Shield.
assistant clerk, to the appropriations
committee Itssteils the entire story
If the bill. Il is presented. almost
=. (Contiahed on Ninth Page)