Evening star., 1932-04-07
PAY SLASHES OUT,
ABERNETHY THINKS
Has Speech Put in Record
After Constituents MiSun-
derstand Position.

In spite of letters from his constitu-
ents, who he frankly states have mis-
understood the conditions regarding
proposed slashing of the Federal pay
roll, Representative Charles L. Aber-
nethy of North Carolina, a member OF
the Appropriations Committee, has
placed in the Congressional Record an
other vigorous speech in opposition TO
cutting the salaries of low-paid Govern
ment workers. He predicts the salary
reduction legislation will be abandoned.
Several days ago I expressed mysell
on the floor Of the House as being OPP
posed to a reduction of Federal salaries,
he said. IT am sorry that the statement
made has been misunderstood by some
of the people in my district. The pro-
gram outlined for the House TO fouow
at that time was to reduce all Federal
salaries and while I was willing 70
make any personal sacrifice In the in
terest of economy and to have my own
salary cut, yet took this position to
fight the entire bill, because there are
many thousands Of Government en-
ployes who are hardly earning enough
to have the bare necessities OF life.
Danger Of Setting Example.
"The program of the House at that
time was not limited to a curtailment
of the higher salaries. feel that any
REPRESENTATIVE who serves his district
faithfully earns whatever salary Is PAID
him. but there are few, If any. members
of Congress who are not willing to make
whatever personal sacrifice that will best
serve the interests of their districts. 1t
would not have helped the present de-
preston to have reduced the buying
power of thousands of small wage earn
ers in the District of Columbia and
throughout the country.
"There was also grave danger In tne
Government setting an example Tor all
other industries throughout the Nation
to further cut wages. Many OF these
industries have already cut wages to q
point where the workers have lost their
economic independence. Discourage
ment and debt staring them in the face,
they have little inclination to buy, ana
instead of the depression being relieved
it is prolonged by the curtailment OF
the buying power of hundreds Of thou
sands of wage earners throughout the
Nation. NY speech was an effort to
defeat the program as then outlined.
Green Statement Quoted.
civilian Green, president of the
American Federation of Labor, In a
statement of March %, 1892, said the
following:
One of the most stabilizing 1nf1u-
ences in this distressing period OF our
history has been the fact the Govern
1nent has steadfastly maintained wage
standards whenever possible
aThe Special Economy Committee
selected from members of the Appro-
prfations Committee Of the House OF
representatives, after thorough study
of this subject. will, believe, abandon
the idea Of general wage cutting and
viii work on a program by which there
can be a consolidation of the many bu-
reaus and commissions and an elimina-
tion of those that render little or no
service to the country. The past Re
publican administrations have created
q large number of these bureaus ana
commissions which should be abolished.
Mr.. Hoover speaks of them as the less
important governmental functions