The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-04-28
LIFT PAY CUT
BURDEN FROM
LITTLE NAN
House Opposed to Reducing
u. S. Salaries Below
$500 a Year.
CITE HO0VER'S ATTITUDE
Leadership Is TrampIed by
Both Parties; Rewriting
for Economy Bill.
BY RUTH FINNEY
Times staff Writer

WASHINGTON, April 28.-The
house of representatives is on record
today as overwhelmingly opposed to
reducing living standards of federal
workers receiving less than $4,000
year.
To register this opinion it tram
pied upon the leadership of both
parties Wednesday night.
Those who demanded that $4,000
instead of $1,000 be exempt from
pay cuts repeatedly quoted old ut
terances of President Hoover to sup
port their contention that prosper
ity's return is dependent upor main
tanning the buying power of the
masses, and that government must
set an example to industry in this
respect.
In the votes, Wednesday, which
lifted the pay cut burden from the
shoulders of the small-salaried
worker, and which opened that way
for this action by rejecting gag rule,
Democrats and Republicans partici-
pated equally.
Leaders of both parties demanded
Acceptance of the rule and the bill.
House Breaks From Control
The house broke from control as
completely as it did during the tax
fight, and it apparently will rewrite
the economy bill on the floor as it
rewrote the tax bill. The debate is
expected to last several Gays.
Debate on the first day of the
economy bill fight showed the house
still determined to effect economies
in the federal budget, though I'M
willing to agree to the method of
saving so laboriously prepared for
them by their committee and the
President.
The Democratic leadership of the
house announced it's intention to
force a separate record vote on each
amendment to the economy bill,
which makes any material change
in the measure.
Speaker Garner said such
course was designed to put the
members feet to the fire in the
matter of economy
If the house had rejected the
rule attaching the economy bill to
the legislative supply bill, the pro-
gram would have been killed, so
far as this session is concerned.
Instead it adopted the rule, with
the gag limitations removed.
Consolidate Bureaus
This will mean, in all probability,
adoption of salary cuts on all
workers getting more than $4,000
including the salaries Of congress-
men.
The increased exemption, Incl
dentally, means $165 less annual
cut for congressman than the COM
mittee's plan. The expected gen.
eral reduction of IL per cent, ap-
piled to them, will reduce their
salaries from $4,000 to $9,175.
1t will mean, also, acceptance of
part of the further economies pro-
posed through retirement of aged
employees, prohibition of promotions,
and of overtime pay, and possibly
elimination of the Saturday half
holiday.
In addition, the house is expected
to accept most of the plans con-
tanned in the bill for consolidation
of government departments and
bureaus. and part. at least, of the
proposed reduction in veterans
benefits.
The $4,000 exemption voted
Wednesday reduces by $55,000,000
the $67,000000 saving the committee
proposed to make in workers in
comes, leaving a $12,000,000 saving
to be effected in higher salary
grades.
Downs FurlOugh Plan
If the house refuses to suspend
the Saturday half holiday another
$4,000, 900 saving will be eliminated
According to present indications,
the proposed consolidation of war
and navy departments, which was
counted on for 100000 saving will
not be approved.
This will leave economies some
what under 500, 900 900 in the house
bill, if the veterans cuts are re-
tanned.
The votes, Wednesday. seemed to
seal the doom of the Presidents
furlough plan which, according to
its sponsors. would have reduced in
comes of federal workers by $685.
100000
They indicated, however, that the
house will continue to accept the
senate's 10 per cent paw cuts in
ennusl appropriation bills.
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