Evening star., 1932-03-27
PAY BILL REPORT
MAY WAIT WEEKS
McDuffie Denies Agreement
to Make It Rider on Leg
isIative Measure.
Continued From First PageO

duce his substitute and have IL reterreo
to his own committee.
When the Economy Committee re,
sumes its sessions tomorrow theIe WIN
be no new proposals awaiting coiisiueI-
alton as far as the members OF G,e Colll-
mittee have been advised. no new
computations regarding the enecI Oh
nercentage reducfions at any rate have
been asked from the Bureau OF Emci-
ency. Several members OF the commit
tee stated that the more computations
and estimates they receive, Ine more
befuddled the committee getS.
There has been very decldeo 1al-
ing off in interest on the SUBJECT OF
paw cuts among members OF the
Economy Committee, within the past
few days, while at the same tlme there
is shown a greater interest," ana
stronger opposition to Sucn ieglSiaClon
among the rank and flle IN the Rouse
who have been making THIS legislation
the subject of cloak-room gossip:
The group of organization leaders
representing the American working men
in every State in the Union who were
called to Washington by William Green,
president of the American Federation
Of Labor, are continuing their canvass
Of members of the House in opposition
to any Government pay-cut legislation.
Reports made by these organization
leaders to Edward F. McGrady, legis-
lative representative OF the American
Federation of Labor. who is in charge
Of the poll, give assurance, he said,
that House members saw the pay cut
in a new light when given the view
point of the working men in their home
districts. Many Of the House members
interviewed have pledged themselves to
vote against any wage slash. and a still
larger number will vote against any bill
which places any levy on the Govern
ment workers who receive less than So
900 year.
Protection Of Workers.
These labor leaders have been en-
phaSizing that they are not lobbying in
the interests of the Federal workers
particularly, but that their primary in
terest is to protect the workers In all
the States by preventing Government
pay reductions from being used as an
excuse for general wage cutting.
The committee has had as its princi-
pal adviser, Herbert D. Brown, chief
of the Bureau of Efficiency, who has
presented numerous tabulations show
ing the savings which would result from
each Of the Is plans of salary reduction.
On Friday, the committee relaxed its
prohibition against hearings and per-
mltted representatives of organizations
of professional men in the Government
service to appear before it in executive
session. Those who were heard were:
William R. Valance, president of the
Federal Bar Association, composed of
more than 600 attorneys employed in
all branches of the Federal service, and
William A. Roberts. also of the Federal
Bar Association; Charles w. Flora of
the General Accounting office. who pre-
pared data for presentation to the COM
mittee. and r. E. Marsh, representing
the organization of professional en-
ployes OF the Department of Agricul-
ture, the latter organization including
several engineers and scientists as well
as members of the legal profession.
The committee did not make public
any conclusion reached as a result of
the arguments presented, but it Is
known that the data received greatly
strengthened the hand of those mem
bers OF the committee who have been
supporting minimum reductions of
salaries.
1nsinuations by Representative Wood
Republican of Indiana, that Govern
ment employees are unpatriotic when
they oppose salary cuts marked the
@4Sol AA6 AL CASCuLlN6 SESSION.
Inc committee members remark
the patriotism of the Federal workers
Is equal to that of Representative Wood.
Living Cost Little Changed.
Mr.. Valance insisted the cost of liy-
ing had shown little If any reduction
In Washington since the depression be-
gan. Wood conceded rents were a little
lower, but said Washingtonians would
not have to pay SO much for their gro
cerles II they were prudent. He Sug-
geSted they could drive out in the
country" and buy eggs for 16 cents
dozen.
ITO do that you'd have to spend the
difference on gasoline" Valance re-
sponded.
Government expenses, valance
argued, should be trimmed through re-
organization of the departments as sug-
gested by President Hoover, rather than
by reduction of pay. Members of the
committee said this would involve dis
charging employees Valance replied the
surplus could be placed with the Re-
construction Finance Corporation and
the Treasury Department, to handle in
creased work resulting from the income
tax.
William A. Roberts. an assistant cor
poration counsel and financial Secre-
tary of the Bar Association, said law
yers in the Federal service daily op-
pose those in private practice, who have
much greater incomes. Explaining he
handles utility matters for the District,
Roberts said he is paid $1,000 a year,
as compared with from $4,000 to
100000 received by the outside lawyers
with whom he habitually has business
dealings.
Both Valance and Roberts said the
Governments revenue should be in
creased by raising income tax rates
They agreed that If Federal salary
slaShes become essential they should
be worked out on a fiat percentage
basis, without exempting those in the
lower brackets.
Chairman McDufle admonished the
witnesses for rushing TO the news
papers" with statements that the COM
mittee was conducting a star chamber
proceeding" because IL originally de-
clined to give them a hearing.
Valance replied the lawyers felt they
were entitled to a hearing and we're
gratified that they ultimately had been
permitted to present their views.
Expression From Bar.
Mr.. Valance had previously released
a statement on behalf of the Federal
Bar Association which set forth the
principal arguments presented. Mr..
Valance stated that his organization
had become satisfied that a great part
of the statistical matter used by the
committee Is based on false assump-
tions.
The gist Of the argument advanced TO
the committee against any pay cut is
based on the fact that the principles
Of the Federal pay schedule contem-
plate a continuous and steady level
of income which is much below COM
mercial wages in times of prosperity,
and Is intended to be maintained in
times of depression. 1t is urged that
one of the principal attractions to men,
particularly in the professional grades,
who enter governmental service is
permanency of their income and pro-
lection against reduction in times OF
adyersity They believe that IL would