The Washington times., 1924-12-02
SENATE TO TAXI:
UP POSTAL
PAY BILL
Attempt to Override Veto by
Coolidge Is to Be Made
at Once

An attempt will be made in the
Senate this afternoon to override
the Presidential veto Of the postal
wage bill granting salary increases
amounting to $4,000. 900 to 100000
postal WORKERS throughout the
United States. Approximately 1000
Washington men and women who
work at the city postoffice and at
the Postoffice Department are anx.
iously following this measure, the
passage Of which would be an &C.
ceptable Christmas gift, inasmuch
as the increases average $240 a
year.
Senator Walter Edge, of New
Jersey, chairman of the joint House
and Senate Postoffice Committees
which drafted the salary bill, made
1t plain today that he will try to
stave off immediate overriding OF
the Presidents veto, but also MADE
1t plain that he viii favor over
riding OF the veto rather than see
the measure lost.
Plans New Revenues.
81 have had several talks with
President Coolidge regarding the
postal pay bill," Chairman Edge
said today. II know he vetoed it
because it did not raise revenue to
provide for the increases. am
hopeful that he will be amicable to
the overriding OF the veto, how
ever. through the introduction OF a
separate bin which viii increase
postal rates to the extent of S43,-
100000 per annum. This is within
$zU,OOO,OOO or the amount necessary
to pay the increased salaries.
DO not agree with the plan
to incorporate revenue producing
provisions in the increased salary
bill. We have never coupled these
two items before. and 1 think that
all salaries should be absorbed in
the same manner as in the past.
| Why destroy the vetoed postal
increased wage bill after 1t has
gone nine-tenths Of the voyage by
inserting some revenue producing
clauses which may not be accept.
ed?'
Would Await Report.
Chairman Edge said that he ia
hopeful that Senate leaders win
agree not to act on the veto until
| after the much sought cost ascer.
tainment report has been forward
cd to Congress by the Postmaster
General. with the cost ascertain.
ment report in hand Senator
Edge said. I'VE will be able to draft
a separate revenue producing bill
and put 1t through immediately
following the enactment OF the one
now before the Senate"
| In short 1t is the intention of
Chairman Edge to secure the early
enactment Of the postal wage in.
crease bill in a manner which win
not embarrass President Coolidge.
He feels that If the separate reve.
nue. producing bill is introduced be.
fore the veto is overridden that the
President will let it be known that
he is now reconciled to the meas.
ure which he vetoed In the dying
days of the last session.
The increased wage bin for postal
workers probably has had more
unified support both in the House
and Senate than any other bill oil
it's kind ever before introduced
When joint hearings were held Or
the wage bill between 500 and 40O
Senator'S and Congressman person
ally appeared before the committee
at the behest OF their constituents
and unduallfiedly let it be known
that it had their hearty support
Cause Of Defeat.
In confidential circles It is ad
mitted that what may have haJ
something to do with the lack 81
success Of the bill at the eleventh
hour was due to a sort Of boom
erang opposition which came frorr
large mail users and postal patron,
when they discovered that by lend
ing their support to the bill they
were going to have to pay increased
postal rates. 1t Is said that thou
sands who had backed it previously
lost their ardor when they found
that the money to give the increas.
wa virtually coming out of th0i,