Evening star., 1924-12-02
S30,0D0,0DO DROP
IN FIRST FUND BILL
Interior Department Appro'
priations Set at $238,2N,-
926 for Coming Year.

Guided in the budget estimates. and
for Frsedmen's Hospital an appropria-
ton Of $4,000 for an enlarged and
remodeled nurses home, payable
wholly from the revenues of the Dis
trict, and carrying an increase OF
$1,000 above current appropriations
for the Columbia Institution for the
Deaf the first one of the big appro-
rriation Bills for the next fiscal year
beginning July was introduced In
the House today.
In his report on the Interior De-
partment appropriation bill Repre-
sentative Louis c. Cramton OF Micni-
gan says that the committee recon-
mends in a modified form continua-
,ion of the average limitation in
serted in all the appropriation bltls
at the last session restricting the
average of all salaries paid under any
Grade under the classification act OF
1928 TO tho average of the compensa-
ZION rates for the grade.
This bill embraces regular annual
appropriatious for the various
branches OF the Hovernment service
under the Jurisdiction of the Interior
department. including such local es-
tabIishments as Columbia institution
FOR the Deaf Howard University,
7Treadn,nu's HOSPITAL and the United
states Patent Office and the pension
Bureau.
Big Cut Proposed.
The amount recommended 10 be
.ppropriatsd is s23S.240.92e, or S3o.-
TiS.1Sss0 less than the total OF ap-
propriations for the current hscal
ear and sI,463,212e7 less than the
amount requested In the estimates
from the budget bureau.
The outstanding differences be-
tween the total appropriations for
Tho current fiscal year and the
amounts recommended IN the bill Tor
-Be fiscal year 1925 consist of re-
tlctions OF s25, 500. 900 for Army and
Navy pensions, s42g7s2s for the Rec
lamation Service, s1046.011.s0 for the
Indian Service. $Sl7,0i0 under the
General Land Office and an increase
of s6Ie,so0 for the Alaskan Rallroad.
For Howard University tho bill
carries $40s.00o. which Is $4,000
above the current year and $4,000
above tho estimates. This Is due to
tho item of 1885, 900 to begin con-
rtruction Of the new medical build
ina at an authorized limit OF cost or
.3T0.00O, with provision for Its equip
rent at a cost or not less tHaii
$4,000 by alumni and other TRENDS
Of the institution.
For the Patent Office there is rec
commended s2,sOf 600. which Is $4,000
less than for tho current year and
$SG3SO above the estimates. This in
ciudes the full second-year amount
Tor the two-yeaT program or tempo
rary additional force which Is ex-
pected TO bring the work OF that
office up current by the end of the
fiscal year 1926.
S178,0OO. 900 Asked for Pensions.
pensions, under the Bureau of Pen
sions, there Is recommended sI7e,-
1000, which Is $25,500.o00 below
tho appropriation for the current
year There was appropriated for
this purpose for 1925 1922 SOC, 900. but 1t
IS not believed now that the expendi-
ture will quite reach $215,O00,000. At
the present rate of decrease It is ex-
pected that the amount recommended
will very closely approximate the ex
penditure for 1926 under existing
laws.
Regarding salaries under the cIas-
sifcation act. the report of Chairman
Cramton explains that the modifica-
tions which are recommended are:
% The limitation Is made specifical
ly to apply to those grades in which
only one position is allocated; co
an employe passing from one grade
to a higher grade Is not required
to suffer a reduction in compensation
because of such advance, and (3)
the words "or class thereon are
omitted from the limitation.
These changes are brought about.
Representative Crafnton explains, by
rulings of the controller general of
the United States. 1t was believed by
the committee in recommending the
uniform average" limitation in the
current appropriation act that every
grade, whether it contains one or
more positions, would be subject to
its operation. The controller general
has decided that the Limitation did
not apply to grades in which there
vas only one position, and therefore
such position could proceed beyond
the average of the compensation rates
for the grades.
Cite McCarl Rulings.
Representative Cramton points out
that section of the classification act
Of 1898 provided. in effect, that pro-
motions In grade might be made
II appropriations were sufficient and
the employe attained d proper eff
cheney rating. to the next higher rate
in the grade. This section did not
specify how often such promotions
might be made. There Is no lin1ita-
tion upon them in the section. In
Interpreting this section, the con-
troller general has held that If an
enploye has attained the proper
standard of efficiency the promotions
within grade might be made from
the minimum to the maximum rate
Of the grade simultaneously IL the
proper average is maintained and the
appropriation Is sufficient.
These two decisions by tho control.
Ter general have operated to remove
entirely the restriction on those
grades where only one position is al.
located and there have come to the
attention of the House appropria-
tlons committee numerous instances
in the grades of higher pay rates In
few of the departments, where ad-
vances have been made Simultaneous
~ from the minimum to the maximum
ratio of the grade. The first chang e
recommended in the average limita-
tions Is designed to correct this sit-
uation.
The controller general also has
ruled that In the case of an employ e
passing from one grade to q higher
srade In which. the proper average
has already been exceeded the
employe must enter the higher grade
at the minimum rate of the higher
grade. even though he must suffer a
reduction in compensation thereby.
The second modification which the
committee recommends will remedy
this condition, It is believed.
Seek 10 Correct Condition.
Chairman Cramton's report says
that II is an injustice in the appli.