Evening star., 1932-03-06
PAY BOOST. WINS,
16O-13, IN HOUSE
Non-Partisan Vote Passes
TreaSury-Post Office Bill
Eliminating Ban.

increases during the next fiscal year for
Treasury and Post Once emloyes.
Receding from it's previous stand
against promotions and filling Of vacan-
cieS in the Federal service, the House,
in passing the Treasury-Post Office sup
ply bill, voted to strike from the meas
ure a clause restricting pay increases
for employees of those departments.
Belief was expressed in Senate cir
cles last night that yesterdays vote in
the House probably will lead to aban-
donment of these restrictions as gen.
eral policy on appropriation bills at
this session of Congress. The same
limitations remain to be finally dis
posed Of in the several other appro-
priation bills to which the House had
previously attached them. 1t was pointed
out last night, however, that when
| these questions come up in conference
on the agricultural bill within a week
the stand already taken by the Senate
against the restrictions will be strength
ened and supported by the House vote
yesterday on the same questions in an
other bill.
Switched by Roll Call.
i A viva voce vote had indicated the
salary raise ban would be incorporated
In the Treasury-Post Office bill, but
when roll call was demanded by Rep
resentative La Guardia, Republican, of
New York, the standing switched from
| 80 against and 102 for the restriction to
$50 against and 155 for It.
! The vote was recorded in approving
an amendment by Mr.. La Guardia to
strike from the bill the provision limit
ing employees pay. The amendment
was added to the bill during a heated
amendment confidently had predicted
its rejection by the House when the
time came for final passage of the bill
Republicans and Democrats divided
evenly in registering $50 votes for the
| strike-out amendment, while AZ Repub-
licans and 113 Democrats lined up
against the La Guardia motion.
The House previously had included
pay raise restrictions in several other
supply bills including those for Agri-
culture. Interior. State, Justice, Com
merce and Labor Departments. The
Senate, however, had taken q stand
against such pay limitations
| Chairman Byrns of the House Ap-
preparations Committee. leading the
fight to retain the promotion ban,
| the clause was eliminated he would
seek to prevent inclusion of the re-
strictive provision in other supply bills.
He bitterly assailed the action OF his
colleagues as inimical to the Govern
ments economy program.
Warned by La Guardia.
| La Guardia, in leading the forces
supporting the employees pay, argued
| that TO tamper with the existing pay
and promotion system would be seri-
Gus breach of contract on the part OF
Uncle Sam.
The final vote was preceded by spirit
| ed debate from both sides of the floor
and was followed by furry of charges
that members had deserted the econ
omy program.
Chairman Byrns declared that those
who had voted to lift the pay raise
ban must answer to their constitu-
ents" for the added increase in taxes
! which he said their action would pro-
! duce.
| Representative woodrum, Democrat,
Virginia, who voted for the restriction
expressed his surprise" that Chairman
Byrns had been left alone" to conduct
| Llic DdLJic lUI VI
In explaining why he had voted to
strike out the restrictive clause, Rep
resentative Clifford, Republican, Massa- =
chusetts, said he felt that in view Of
the passage by the House. Saturday of
the $132,G00000 appropriation for
roads, there was mot much use to
economic By taking a little money from
the Government employees"
The discarded clause not only would
have prevented employees from gaining
any promotion before July l. 1888, but
would have precmded the appointment
of additional employees to fill vaean-
cies unless specifically requested by the
President.
The debate preparatory to taking a
vote was brief but fiery.
Chairman Byrns opened the argument
by declaring that the Appropriations
Committee inserted the pay restriction
as an essential economy measure, with
a view to preventing further tax bur-
dens on the people. He said those who
voted for the restriction would be real
friends Of the postal service"
Salary Contract Solemn.
Representative La Guardia responded
| that Federal salaries are PAID under a
solemn contract" made with the en-
ploye by the Government and that
Uncle Sam could not afford 10 break
faith with its servants. He said it was
utterly wrong in principle to remove
all hope of promotion" and that the
example thus set would be bad one
for private industry to observe
Chairman Byrns reminded the House
that President Hoover has gone on rec
ord against pay increases, to which
Representative La Guardia replied that
| the question at issue was not one OF
increasing pay rates, but Of maintain
ing the regular flow of promotion under
existing wage scales.
Representative Michener, Republican,
Michigan, said he was In favor OF the
| pay-raise ban because he was sure the
employees we're patriotic enough 10 want
to cooperate in the economy plans Of
| lucky TO have their salaries remain In
status quo"
When a vote was demanded on the
bill. Chairman Byrns asked for a sepa-
rate vote on the La Guardia amend
ment The viva voce vote against the
amendment followed, but when the roll
was called many members changed their
position.
Conference Action Next.
The next important development on
the question Of salary promotions and
filling Of vacancies will come this week,
when the agricultural appropriation
bill. from which the Senate already has
eliminated the House restrictions. IL
sent 10 conference.
Senator McNary, Republican. oi
oregon. in charge Of the agricultural
! bill hopes TO get a final vote on 1t In
! the Senate tomorrow. in which case
conferees representing the two nrancnrE
/ Of Congress probably will be appointed
bv the middle OF the week 10 begin
the task OF adjusting amendments.
Since this will be the frst Of The
regular annual supply bills 70 reach
. the conferenc. stage, 1t will offer the
first opportunity for joint discussion
between House and Senate managers
on the whole question Of whether Con
| ia-r ApvuP a hard and fast