Evening journal., 1917-03-06

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.
WASHINGTON. ID. C.. March g.
Congressman Thomas w. Miller, of Della
ware, in the closing days of the session
after the big war preparedness questions
had been disposed Of, made a speech
outlining the attitude of the Republican
members of Congress on the question Of
providing adequate pay for men in the
government service. Mr.. Miller showed
that the Republican members of the
House had voted consistently 10 stand
by the House provision for an increase
IN the salaries of government employees.
Mr.. Miller showed that never was there
mere TINA three Republican votes against
the House salary increase proposition for
postoillce department employees. while
the greatest number of Democratic votes
against it was 49, It is expected that
Ny. Miller's speech will be used as n Re-
publican campaign document. In the
course Of his speeeh he said;
Mr.. Chairman at the opening OF
the present session OF Congress one
OF the live issues confronting us was
the increase in the salaries OF govern
ment employees In the departmental
and field service. a matter that has
not received legislative attention for
several decades.
There are seven OF the annual an
preparation bills which deal with the
wages and salaries Of the government
employees affected by the salary-in-
crease proposition. The so-caIled
House salary increase proposition
provides for an increase OF 10 per
cent. for those who have salaries up
20 $1,000 per annum and an Increase
Of 5 per cent for those whose sal
aries range from $1,000 per annum 10
$500 per annum. The Senate propo-
Eition provides for an increase of Is
per cent. up TO salaries OF $3.50 per an
mum and an increase OF 10 per cent.
Tor salaries between $3.50 and up TO
$1,000 per annum. Il stops at the
$1,000 salary.
OF the seven appropriation bills
referred to heretofore, the following
ones were sent 10 the Senate with the
original House proposition embodied:
The Indian appropriation bill, the
legislative. executive and judicial an
preparation bill. the army appropria-
lion bill. and the sundry civil appro-
priation bill
"The postoflice appropriation bill as
reported TO the House contained the
House provision, but it was knocked
out on a point OF order. being put In
later when tho bin was sent to con-
ference by thetIouse after it had
passed the Senate. The District OF Co
lumbia appropriation bill contained no
provision as first passed by the
House. but when the bill was sent to
conference it contained as an amend
ment the House provision The argri-
cultural Appropriation bill contained
the House provision as the bill passed
the House
without taking the time now TO
further outline the initial steps i'm the
matter as the various appropriation
bills passed the House want
20 take up the question at the
beginning Of the controversies be-
tween the House and the Senate. on
january s, 1917. the House had the
opportunity on a roll call for the first
time to express IFS attitude on this
smatter The agricultural appropria-
ton bill was before the House at the
time. and by n vote OF 2S2 10 81 this
so-called House provision was insert
ed I'm the bill. On the roll call there
were 1873 Republicans who voted IN
favor OF the House provision and 145
Democrats. Against the proposition
there wore 80 Democrats and Repub-
iican. Later on, on the 18th OF Feb
ruary, when the District OF Columbia
appropriation bill came back 10 the
House TO be sent 10 conference. the
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr
Pagel. in charge OF the bilh made a
motion which In effect was TO strike
nut the Senate salary proposition and
insert in lieu thereof the House salary
proposition. That was carried on a
viva voce vote no division being de-
handed on the 18th OF February the
Indian appropriation bill was sent 10
conference, and there was afforded the