Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-21
ACTION BY SENATE
REVIEWS HOPE FOR
SALARY INCREASES
Vote of 43 to "a Paves Way
for Later Discussion on
Treasury-P. o. Bill.
LEASES AND GARAGE
ITEMS DEFEAT REPORT
Jones Holds House Should Be
Given Vote on Budget
Bureau Increases.

The action Of the Senate late yester-
day in rejecting the conference report
on the Treasury-Post ONCE appropria-
ton bill by vote Of AZ to "a puts of
until after the Christmas recess of Con-
gress final decision on salary increases
for Government employees in under
average grades, and gives these en-
ployes renewed hope that the amount
recommended by the budget may yet be
approved.
The conferees on Friday had dropped
from this bill the 81, $780, 900 inserted by
the Senate to cover 80 per cent of the
increases needed in under-average
grades of the classification law, and If
the Senate had accepted the conference
report it probably would have meant
the death knell for this part of the
salary program for another fiscal year.
The rejection of the report, however,
sends this, the first of the appropriation
bills, back to conference and gives new
lease en- life to the Senate salary amend
ments, which had appeared doomed
early yesterday.
Two Issues Contested.
The fight waeed by Senator Brook
hart, Republican, Of Iowa, against
elimination Of the salary increases was
not alone responsible for defeat of the
conferee's report. Senator Blaine, Re-
publican, of Wisconsin, also fought the
report because the conferees had cut
out his amendment, placing certain re-
strictions on leases made by the Gov
eminent for garage space. The two
issues served to defeat adoption of the
report. The effect of the vote, however
was a victory for those who favored
granting the salary increases, because
it left the door open to further nego-
tiation before the bill is enacted.
While this bill dealt only with sal
aries in the Treasury and Post Once
Departments, It has been generally con-
sidered that whatever course is fol-
lowed in one department will prevail
on all subsequent departmental supply
bills for next year.
Before the vote was taken, Senator
Jones, Republican, of washington, chair
man of the Senate Appropriations Com
mittee, Joined in the salary discussion
to declare that the membership of the
House should be given an opportunity
to vote on the increases recommended
by the Budget Bureau, pointing out
that thus far they have only had q
chance to express themselves on the
Wood amendment. Senator Jones pre-
dicted that, If given a chance to vote,
the House would allow the salary money
to take care of the 80 per cent of I'M
der-average grades.
Democrats Join Discussion.
Senator Dill, Democrat, of Washing
ton, and Senator Mcclellan, Democrat,
of Tennessee, joined in the discussion of
the salary amendments.
During the debate, Senator Moses,
Republican, of New Hampshire, in
charge of the conference report, urged
Senator Brookhart to make his fight for
the salary increases on the agricultural
supply bill which will come up later,
and Senator Smoot, Republican, Of
Utah, argued for adoption of the con-
ference report because this appropria-
ton contains money for improveme
that would be Immediately available.
The Iowan, however, insisted that the
Senate should defeat the report and
require further elaboration on the bill
after the Christmas holidays.
When some one suggested that this
bill could be enacted now and the
eliminated salary money placed in a
deficiency bill later in the session,
Chairman Jones of the Appropriations
Committee made known his views. He
declared that If there Is any thought
of allowing this money in a deficiency
bill, it might as we'll be settled now,
in connection with the regular annual
supply bills.
UrgeA House Action.
LET us send this back to conference,
and let the House have an opportunity
to get the expression of its members on
this one-third, or one out of three years
proposition" Senator Jones said. He
had reference to the budget recon-
mendation that 80 per csnt of the
promotions be provided for next year
and the remainder in the succeeding
two years.
They have had it on one other BILL"
said Senator Smoot.
mo, they have not had 1t, as I'M
derstand, on this particular phase"
Senator Jones continued. "They have
had it on the Wood section so far, and
they voted it out; and, in my Judgment,
If they get an opportunity on this
money proposition they will take care
of the one-third belonging to the clerks.
If we will send this bill back to con-
ference, in my Judgment, the matter
will be taken care of properly, and the
House will have to yield on that, as
they had to yield on the Wood section"
Senator Moses opened the debate by
telling the Senate that Its conferees did
not yield physically" to the House
group, but were met by an adamant at
titude on the part of the House con-
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