Evening star., 1916-12-17
FRIENDS OF CLERKS
WIN FIRST BATTLE
By Vote of 263 to II, Open
Way to Make Increase
Larger.
DEFEAT FITZGERALD RULE


The first round in the fight to in
crease the salaries of government
clerks was fought late yesterday after
noon in the House, the victory being
a heavy one in favor of the members
who want a more liberal raise than the
5 and 10. per cent scale offered by the
appropriations committee in section SIX
of the legislative, executive and judi
cial appropriation bill BY vote OF
263 to - the House overthrew the
proposed air-tisht rule of the appTo-
priations committee and adopted rule
brought in by the rules committee
which, in effect. paves the way for ND
eral amendments. greater increases and
unlimited debate.
The whole government clerk salary mat
ter is now wide open. with the probability
that tomorrow the House will have
chance to add the Nolan s3-a-day bill
as an amendment and that Represent
ative Keating of Colorado will offer as as
a sliding scale increase of generous
proportions for all employees above the
S1.0S0 grade.
The battle yesterday was a short one.
a little more than half an hour being
consumed in talk. For once the en-
tire rules committee, republicans and
democrats, turned up as unit and re
ported a rule which would allow great
freedom of action.
Labor Leaders Were Active.
The necessity for a rule has been
discussed previously. By this rule the
salary raising proviso may be retained
in the bill and not be knocked out on
point of order. The proposed Fitzger-
aid rule went step farther and pre-
vented any amendment to the and 10
per cent raise. Had the Fitzgerald rule
been adopted the House would simply
take section six or leave it.
Labor leaders were active all day
yesterday while the rule which even
tually carried the day was framed.
They were especially interested in see
ing that the Nolan bill-the three-dol-
lar-a-day minimum wage bills tack
ed on to the appropriation bill; and now
that the House has bowled over the
appropriations committee, the Nolan
bill seems to be the next step. Under
its provisions no employe of the gov
ernment who has been at work for the
government year and is twenty-one
years of age. shall receive less than SO
a day.
Il ~
chairman OF the appropriations COM
mittee. wearing the reddist necktie ever
seen in Congress perhaps. appeared TO be
afire with rage when Chairman Henry
OF the rules committee arose and pre-
sented the resolution containing the rule
to change the legislative program in hand.
Mr. Fitzgerald Makes Fight.
Representative Fitzgerald declared the
House had never before seen the chairman
OF one committee take command of the
situation which had been given to another
committee. that the rules committee had
no right to step in and muddy up the
waters; that the appropriation bill is
matter for the appropriations committee
to steer. and that the rules committee
would better get out
Then Chairman Henry. in five minutes.
dug up political history of the last ten
years. He dragged into his counter
charge the old Cannon rules fight and the
Fitzgerald embargo bills. He talked about
cotton. war. appropriations and politics.
and got more into five-minHte speech
than most men can learn in a lifetime.
Between retorts Representative Mann
Of Illinois asked a simple question which
may indicate that some one on the re-
publican side will attempt to make the
proposed clerks salary increases effective
before July 1. 1917. as provided now.
Representative Fitzgerald explained
that the appropriations committee had
TO find policy Of salary raising that
would be followed by all committees, and
that in addition the country is facing
deficit Of s2S4. 900. 900: that some Of the
appropriations to be placed before the
House would increase the government
burden of expense hundred million
year without increasing the returns of
service. He charged the rules COM
nlittee with an entire lack of RESPONSE
bility.
Republicans Support Mr.. Henry.
Representative Lenroot of Wisconsin
and Representative Campbell of Kansas.
republican members of the rules COM
rnittee. defended the Henry rule. declar-
ing it a liberal and proper one
1t will give members chance to
express their opinion on the subject
OF salary raises" said Representative
Lenroot.
Representative Cannon of Illinois was
opposed TO the Henry rule and defend
ed the Fitzgerald proposition and the
appropriations committee. Representa-
tive Mann urged the republicans to
vote for the Henry rule. and the ensu-
ing vote showed they took his advice
in large numbers.
The merits of the salary question
were not touched upon. the first fight
simply being skirmish TO get pre-
ferred position on. tfle mater of amend
ns peT cent es prss rssses ear a2r only ana ON IN
the rising vote tby Henry rule was
adopted. 1s0 TO 49, And the record roll
call. vote showed 2C3 70 II.
Previous to this skirmish Rep.e-
sentative Borland endeavored TO in
sert his eight-hour proyiso into the
bill extending the work day of gov
ernment clerks in Washington to a
length Of eight hours. He received but
little support.
MANSLAUGHTER VERDICT
I'M DYNAMlTING CASE