Evening star., 1932-01-07
Committee Decides to Deny
Further Hearings on Four
Proposed Measures.
FEDERATION OF LABOR
DISPLAYS OPPOSITION
Chairman Cochran Says Legisla-
ton Should Not Be Presented
at This Time.

In executive session today after a
two-hour hearing for the proponents of
four measures designed to slash salaries
of Government employees, the House
Committee on Expenditures in the Ex-
ecutive Department voted to deny fur
ther hearings on these measures and to
table all four propositions.
Chairman Cochran explained that the
hearing was held only because the pro-
ponents demanded an opportunity to
argue for these measures. The COM
mittee was convinced that such legisla-
ton should not be presented to the
House at this time, and therefore felt
much time could be saved by not hear
ing the large number of organizations
and individuals who desired to be heard
in opposition to any such legislation,
including several score members of the
House and Senate.
Labor Gets Hearing.
The four measures considered were
introduced by Representatives Rich,
PENNSYLVANIA; CARRIER, Oklahoma, and
McGugin, Kansas. The opposition OF
the American Federation of Labor to
anv attempts at reduction of salaries
was laid before the committee by Chair
man Cochran who had received a state
ment on this subject from President
William Green.
Representative Rich called the atten-
ton of the committee to the recently
published lengthy list Of delinquent
real estate tax debtors and argued that
this was an indication that the people
could not pay increased taxes and that
it was necessary to decrease eXpendl-
lures in order to balance the budget.
He said his study showed that living
expenses we're 25 per cent less than
few years ago, so that if the Govern
ment employees suffered 10 per cent
reduction in salary they still would be
IS per cent ahead. He told the COM
mittee that, in his opinion, 1t is bel
ter to cut salaries and to do away with
certain bureaus in order to relieve the
general depression.
Representative Rich characterized
the Government employees in Washing
ton as a most favored class, living OH
the taxes of all others. He estimated
that sl65 100000 could be saved If his
bill was passed. If the revenue to bal
ance the budget could be raised from
any other source, he said, he would
not favor salary curtailment.
PROPOSES Congress Cut.
II Government employees salaries
are reduced he said, and the reduc-
ton does not include members OF Con-
gress, he would turn back 10 per cent
Of his own salary as Congressman
TO the Federal Treasury.
Countering this, Representative VII
liamS of Texas, a member OF the COM
mittee said he was in favor OF reduc-
ing the salaries of members Congress
and not those Of the Government en-
ployeS
Representative Shallenberger spoke
for himself and Representative Garber,
author of another of the salary reduc-
ton measures. He cOntended there Is
a great deal of duplication of employ
ment in the Government seRice and
it is sound economy to prevent deterl-
Grafton of the currency. He estimated
1922, 100000 could be saved under his
bill
Representative McGugin, author OF
the fourth proposal, said the gross wage
check of the United States has been
reduced 49 per cent, while Government
salaries have increased during the past
few years He insisted 1t Is unfair TO
pay such large salaries out of the taxes
paid by those whose salaries have been
reduced
Indicates Opposition.
Following the executive session,
Chairman Cochran issued the following
statement:
The four bills tabled by the COM
mittee after hearing the authors this
morning provided for reduction in sal
aries of all Government employees, even
those in the 81 200 class being included
prevented that class from being touched
but did reach the $4,000 class.
The bills were considered as a whole
Some of the members of the COM
mittee made it plain that their votes
legislation affecting those who receive
high salaries, while others also an
nounCed they would vote for reduc-
ton Of their own salaries, but the COM
mite did as whole indicate by its ac-
Continued on Page 5, Column g.
IS SCOMMENTTNG