The Washington times., 1920-03-08
SENATE WILL
i: RETAIN BONUS
Senators Smoot and Warren to
Offer No Objection to Con-
, tinuing Item.

No objections to the restoration or
the $40 salary bonus for Federal EN-
ployes will be interposed by Senators
Warren or smoot, when the matter
comes before the Senate Approprls-
tions subcommittee tomorrow morn
ing.
1t is expected that the legislative
executive, and judicial appropriation
measure, with the bonus put back In
81. will be faVorably reported TO the
Senate tho latter part of the week.
The Senate committee probably VIII
await the end OF the debate on the
peace treaty before reporting the bill.
To Fight in Committee.
Senator Warren is chairman or the
subcommittee, and Senator Smoot lts
ranking majority member. The ap-
provaI of these two men for the
bonus makes It certain that there viii
be no serious fight in committee
against it
The Federal Employees Union has
determined, however, to press for It's
, original demand that the bonus be in
creased to $3.50 per year in the Senate.
There is slight hope for the increase
being granted In the upper chamber, In
the view of Senators, and they say that
amendments to the measure offered on
the floor will serve only to complicate
the situation.
Another point which is made by
Senators is the fact that there is no
chance whatever for the report of the
reclassification commission to be con-
sidered at the present session. All OF
n
been framed. Even should Congress
be strongly in favor of the work Of
the commission. which is doubtful. the
recasting of the bills would be a job
which 1t would not undertake.
The Federal Employees Union is
girding for its fight against the men,
beers of the Republican Steering Com
mittee of the House, who 1T declares
were directly responsible for the
elimination of the s240 bonus from
the legislative, executive, and Judicial
appropriation bill.
Luther c. Steward, president Of the
federation. states that 1.-The Republic
can leaders of the House must accept
responsibility for having reduced
these salaries by failing to take the
perfectly obvious step of protecting
the provision against the point Of
order by means of special rule,
which they mad 1ull power 10 make.
Justice for the Government Clerk"
was the topic of the Rev. Earle VIII
fey, pastor of the Vermont Avenue
Christian Church, yesterday morning.
NO doubt there are some ineffi-
Gent and lazy clerks" he declared,
.but to apply this criticism to the
whole body of clerks and to punish
them by a demotion in grade and
reduction in pay is an injustice that
is amazing. Thousands of these
faithful servants of the Government
were receiving the same salary they
: received years ago until this bonus
of S24O was added by the last Con
gress.
Criticism Of Minister.
1--WE do not hear coming from Cap
.tol Hill, any proposition to reduce
the salaries or the expense account
of members OF Congress. They make
liberal provision for themselves as
10 salaries, clerical force, secretaries
and assistant secretary, whether the
latter are needed or not"
DR.. Whitley made reference to the
fact that Congressman are paid mile
age between their homes and wash
ington at the rate of 20 cents a mile.
Congressman Blanton of Texas. who
Is the bitterest foe of the Govern
ment clerks in the lower house, re-
ceives more than $500 for his round
trip between the Panhandle and the
Capital