The Washington herald., 1921-06-02
DEMOCRATS ASSAIL
REPUBLICAN MEANS
OF CUTTING BUDGET
Opposition Leaders Deny
Economies Claimed in
11 Departments.

Senate democrats assailed repub-
lican methods of economy in the
government departments yesterday
zen Senator Harrison of Missippi.
king of Utah. Glass Of Virginia.
MeKellar of Tennessee, and even
%enroot republican, of Wisconsin
.allenged figures of the appropria-
ps committee Of which Senator
Ssrren. of Wyoming. is chairman.
Senator Warren had called up the
cond deficiency bill. which carries
ss3.S5o.s91 more than s100,Ss1,o1O
allowed by the house.
Question of Salaries.
Harrison demanded to know IL tbs
N provides for the payment oi
laries during the fiscal year ol
=, and IL so, how much were the
s .iaries thus provided and why are
they provided for in a bill for ded-
ciencies.
He was told by Senators Warren
and Smoot of the appropriations
c5nmittee. that something like
sf0o. 600 was provided for salaries
Rext year under the heading OF
EMERGENCIES. The explanation was
q adeE that lump-sum appropriations
4 u only until July 1 and that the
Is skislative appropriation bill did not
provide for employees after that
date. Emergency items were placed
in the deficiency bill in order to
avoid confusion when the present
hucal year expires and there would
otherwise-be no money to take care
of the extra needs.
Explains Clerk Increase.
Harrison demanded. why has the
majority party been adding en-
ployes to the government rolls
while. pretending to be cutting dowr
employees"
He was told than on account OF
the vast number of applications 70!
leases for oil lards and lands con-
tanning other deposits the land office
of the department Of interior is
facing an emergency which re-
quired. in spite of retrenchment:
generally, the employment of extra
men. "The government receives
many millions of dollars on thesc
leases and the employment of extra
forces for this purpose even though
increas1ng the appropriations somt
$4,000 in the land Office was eco
nomical.
Some increases were necessary in
the eomptroller's office. Harrison
was told. because Sc employees there
will go out of the service July 1
when the increases become effective
Attack by Harrison.
Harrison called off a list of new
positions that were provided for as
emergencies" in the deficiency bill
and said he was merely inquiring
whether the Republican party is
economizing or increasing the tax
burdens of the country.
He was told that some of the
positions, specifically that of the
commissioner of public debt at S6,-
600 a year. were not new, and that
the practice of providing for future
demands in a deficiency bill was
not new. The undersecretary of the
treasury at $4,000. he said, takes
the places of other employees who
are to 20. Senator Warren charged
the Mississippi senator with using
the argument for political purposes
Senator Smoot said the reductions
in government service made since
October averaged more than 200 a
month. On June l. Senator Smoot
said, the war risk insurance bureau
had more than 400 less in number on
its payrolls as a result of the prun-
ing, and that instead Of 10000 en-
pIoyes during the war, it has now
less than 5000. Senator Glass said
the employees in the war risk bureau
were sadly abused in regard to pay
some of the very able men receiving
less than elevator boys. Mckellar
said the men there are getting more
than they are worth at that.