Evening star., 1931-12-28
Vital Functions of Govern
ment Must Not Be Impaired,
President Holds.
APPROVAL OF PAY CUTS
NOT INCLUDED In VIEWS
Message on Wickersham Report
Not Expected to Touch
Upon Prohibition.

President Hoover will welcome any
additional reduction in the budget that
Congress may succeed in bringing about
provided that the vital functions of the
Government are not impaired by this
further pruning of the appropriations
for the next fiscal year.
This attitude of the President was
disclosed today, but the intimate to
whom he expressed himself was circum-
spect about the question of including
salary cuts for Federal employees in the
Presidents viewpoint. The inference
was that the Presidents views we're of
general nature and he had nothing
in mind that would give rise to the
belief that he would sanction any
sweeping cuts of employees salaries.
Although Mr.. Hoover has not ex-
pressed himself publicly since the decla-
rations were published by a few Sen
ators and Representatives in favor Of
reducing salaries as one Of the ways
to effect Government economy, he has
indicated to those with whom he has
discussed the subject that the proposal
does not appeal to him.
A study of the subject is understood
to have convinced the President that
the saving that would result from salary
slashlng would be trivial compared to
the possibility of impaired efficiency In
Government departments.
Doesn't Approve Pay Cuts.
Therefore, President Hoover's readi-
ness, disclosed today, to go along with
any movement in Congress that would
reduce expenses generally below the
estimates fthe Bureau of the Budget,
is not to be taken as including his ap-
proval of reducing the pay OF employees:
While this subject was being discussed
today it was recalled that Congress last
year cut 2O,000,000 from the budget for
this years expenses of the Government,
and after accomplishing this feat
of economy, granted appropriations
amounting to $3.50, 100000, none OF
which was included in the budget esti-
mates.
The budget for the next fiscal year as
submitted to Congress was pared down
duction of 1869 100000 over the budget
of the year before, and although the
President used the pruning knife gen.
erously, and made cuts wherever ne
thought was possible, he is willing to
have more cutting done by Congress, II
this is possible and if the funCtioning
of the Government will not suffer.
Wickersham Report Due.
The President has a number of spe-
cial messages which will be transmitted
to Congress soon, several OF them &C
companying special reports made by
commissions. Prominent among these Is
message on law enforcement, which
will accompany the report of the find
ings of the WickerSham Law Enforce
ment Commission.
The Presidents message with this re-
port which is being looked forward to
with widespread interest, is likely to be
disappointing to many. inasmuch as he
probably will not touch at all upon the
prohibition subject, but will contine his
remarks to the proposed reforms in en-
forcement procedure with the view to
Stiffening the arm of the Government
in dealing with law violatorS especially
so-called gangsters
Meanwhile on Capitol Hill there came
an expression from Representative
Smell of New York, the Republican
leader, of determination to cooperate
with the Democrats in reducing ex-
penditures.
Ready to Go Along.
Commenting on a statement of Rep
resentative Rainey of Illinois, the DEM
ocratic leader, that his party would
reduce budget estimates, Smell said
Rainey would find the Republicans
willing to go as far as he does in cut
ting expenses.
Smell said that in the Democrats
as outlined by Rainey he no
ticed they favor placing the burden
on the wealthy class that is able to
pay"
"At the same time I notice." he said,
they oppose making income and cor
poration tax retroactive. AS a matter
of fact, if the tax increases are made
retroactive it is the wealthy class and
those able to pay who will have to bear
the burden.
Il sshould think they would be in
favor of making the increase retroactive
for that reason"