Evening star., 1932-12-16
SENATORS STUDY
PAY CUT PROPOSAL
Economy Committee Unde'
cided, but May Propose
Small Reduction.

Tne special senate economy COM
mittee conferred again today for near
ly two hours without deciding the Gov
eminent salary question, but there are
indications that some thought is being
given to suggestions that small per-
centage cut be applied on top Of the
present s1s per cent furlough.
Members Of the committee empha-
sized. however, that no conclusions have
been reached Thus far, 1t is under
stood. members have been exchanging
views without definite trend as to
the ultimate outcome. 1t Is still entire
ly possible that the Senate group may
fellow the course adopted BY the House
Of not going beyond the BY, per cent
furlough plan nov IN effect.
Much Of the tine today was devoted
to q conference the committee held
with Controller General McCarl, who
has rendered in the neighborhood Of
400 rulings and opinions on various
phases of the economy law.
Many oppose Cuts.
A number Of Senators who are not
members Of the Economy Committee
have indicated In the past few days
that they would strongly oppose cutting
Government salaries deeper than the
existing furlough plan.
The theory behind the suggestion for
five-day week with some percentage
of additional pay cut is that it would
have a tendency to keep employees on
the roll and spread employment by
making work for substitutes In those
branches of the service where persons
must be on duty every day. This would
apply particularly in the postal service
and IN places like hospitals.
The House late yesterday adopted the
policy for all the big appropriation bills
of continuing the furlough- -without-p pay
system Of reducing Government salaries
equivalent to an 8h per cent cut, when
it approved the Treasury-Post Once
appropriation bill, renewing the provi-
sions Of the economy act for another
year, with only two minor amendments
Ignores Hoover Suggestion.
The House thus followed the lead OF
the Appropriations Committee In ignor-
ing the Presidents recommendation for
further cut of IL per cent in Govern
ment salaries, and this action was con-
flrmed by the Appropriations Committee
in reporting its second big appropriation
bill, for the Interior Department, based
on the furlough system and doing
nothing about the additional II per
cent-cut proposal The Interior bill was
taken up on the floor OF the House late
yesterday, Immediately following the
passage of the Treasury-Post Once bill.
The two amendments made to provi-
SionS Of the economy act will lessen by
some $2,000,000 the estimated savings,
according to figures compiled by Chair
man Byrns, but which were disputed
by Minority Leader Smell, who said he
did not believe they would amount to
that much. One amendment protected
part-time employees whose yearly rate
Of salary is in excess Of the 81 900 ex-
they actually receive In excess Of $83. SO
per month. The other allows special
delivery messengers to deduct the cost
OF maintenance of automobiles or We
hicles before the AIS per cent cut Is
made.
Representative La Guardia, Republic
an, Of New York, endeavored to increase
the exemption from 81 900 to $500 for
all Government employees, but was de-
feated.
In the Treasury-Post once measure,
the House accepted bill that would
disburse $194, ,83l 900 less than was al
lowed for this year and $50, ,912 900 less
than President Hooyer's budget bureau
asked. The total for both the Treasury
Post Once and Interior measures Is
$2lS, ,622, 900 less than the bills approved
last session.