Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-06-10
PRESIDENT COOLIDGE
vETOES THE postal.
PAY INCREASE BILL

postal salary increase bill Twas
vetoed by President Coolidge today
with the declaration that govern
ment extravaganza must stop"
1t was returned to the senate with
a message objecting to the -legisla-
ton because 1t made no provision
for raising the approximately $685.
900, 900 from the postal revenues.
When the veto message was read
in the senate President Cummins
ruled that It could not be acted on
until entered on the journal, which
would require several hours.
Approval was given by the pres
ident to the provision added to the
bill to regulate campaign expendi-
lures and the statement was made
that he would approve that section
Il 1t stood alone.
Delay in the revision Of postal
salaries, conceded to be inequitable
in certain cases, until the post
office department is able to
complete its inquiry into cost ascer-
tainment, was advised by the presi-
dent.
Waits on New Rates
"When the results of this inquiry
are available" the president said,
"they will form the basis for an in
| telligent consideration by the post
master general and by congress CT
all questions relating to the ade-
quacy or inadequacy of postage
rates. They will afford a proper
basis for consideration Of relation
of the cost of the postal service and
! revenue derived therefrom. The
| time has arrived to consider putin g
| the postal service on a sound basis
so far as expenditures and revenues
are concerned.
'It is apparent that the matter OF
| increasing the salaries of postal emf
ployes should be considered in con-
| nection with the ways and means
| the postal revenues may he CORE
| spondingly increased, not apar5
therefrom. This report will be avail
able when the congress conVenes in
| December, and this matter can then
be considered.
'"rhis bill adds approximately $685.
| 100000 to the annual expenditures
of the government" Mr.. Coolidge
said. ''It makes no provision for
raising this amount as postal rev.
enue. The money must come from
the pockets Of the taxpayers.
Tax Reduction First
| ITO the extent that we create fur
| Their obligations which must be met
| from the moneys derived from tax
alton to that extent do we reduce
| the possibility OF further reduction
| in taxes. Before such obligations
are created it should be conclusivelv
shown that they are essential in the
| best interests OF the nation.
Government extravaganza must
stop. The people of the nation are
| paying all that it is possible for
them to pay. 1 have taken my posi-
| ton in relation to government
economy, which / have stated and
restated until it is well known. J.
| feel that that position ought to e
consistent. l do not see how L can
approve the large increase in ex-
| penditure of this kind, except on the
plea of urgent necessity. 1t may ,e
that some adjustments would be
| justified, but an organized effort by
a great body Of public employees to
secure indiscriminate increase in
compensation should have the most
searching scrutiny. The needs of
| the public, the ability of the people
! to pay, must have some considera-
! ton
The president called attention to
three adjustments in postal salarie1
siuce 1918, and added that since then
the cost Of living had decreased,
rather than increased. He submitted
figures showing that the lowest aV-
erage of the salaries Of postal en-
ployes in the field service is nearly
5000 more than the average for en-
pIoyes in the government depart
ments in Washington, and presented
the results of postoffice department
survey which found that in all cases
Of employees Of a similar character
the average salaries paid by business
institutions throughout the country
were much lower than those paid III
the postal service"
Mention was made Of the long list
OF persons awaiting opportunity 10
obtain employment in the postal serv'
ice, with the statement that with the
exception of large cities and indus
trial communities, there had been no
difficulty experienced in maintaining
lists of eligibles to fill vacancies.