Evening star., 1932-06-25
SUPPORTERS FEAR
CONFERENCE MAY
KILL ECONOMY BILL
fcontinued Prom First Page.l

clause would lead to wholesale dis
missals.
"A provision requiring dismissal of
either man or wife, II both are In the
Government service. when personnel
reductions are made necessary by in
sufficient appropriations.
3-The authorization to department
heads to furlough employees indefinitely
to keep within appropriations.
"A provision requiring automatic
retirement of superannuated employees
Immediately upon reaching the retired
age prescribed in existing law. It was
charged this provision would result IN
the immediate removal Of 500 en-
ployes, 800 Of whom would draw no an
nuities whatever, because they have
not been in the service Is years.
Attacks also were made on the pro-
vision abolishing all annual leave with
pay In the coming fiscal year, and per-
manently fixing annual leave with pay
thereafter at IS days.
Fear Loss of Leave.
Fear was expressed that this pro-
vision might deprive those workers ex-
empted from the furlough and who
would be reduced In pay from 8.3 to
20 per cent Of any annual leave in the
coming fiscal year. Senators Jones and
Bratton, however, assured the Senate
that those who suffered a wage cut in
the coming fiscal year would receive
annual leave with pay. In this group
are District police, firemen and school
teachers.
The same conferees who served on
the first conference committee were
appointed by the Senate TO resume ne
gotiations with the House In the sec
ond conference. They are Senators
Jones, Smoot Of Utah, Bratton, Hale
Of Maine and Broussard Of louisiana.
Instructions we're given them to hold
out in the new conference for the or
iginal furlough plan sponsored by the
Senate, exempting employees receiving
less than $1,000 year. The House
amendment would have exempted en-
ployes receiving less than 81 900 a
year.
The House has discharged its con-
ferees, but the same ones who served
on the first conference are expected to
be renamed. They are McDuffle, Doug
las Of Arizona and Wood Of Indiana.
"a Crime Against Age"
Senator Dale, Republican, Of Yer
mont, chairman of the Senate Civil
Service Committee, initiated the battle
against the automatic retirement pro-
vision. Senator johnson, Republican,
of California, took 1t up and described
the provision as "a crime against age"
Senator Dale took the text Of his
speech from Shakespeare's Merchant
Of Venice and appealed fervently to
the Senate to stop playing "Shylock"
to the Government employees.
I'VE have been playing kind Of
Shylock to the employees Antonio" de-
clared Senator Dale. "It Is time We
changed The only way we can remedy
it is to send this bill back to confer
ence and let us play Portia for little
while and find something in this bond
by which we can save Antonio from
losing his pound Of flesh"
Senators Reed Of Pennsylvania and
La Toilette of Wisconsin, heatedly de-
nounced the provision relating to the
dismissal of married workers, char
acterizing 1t as manifest step toward
breaking up homes.
Senator Bingham concentrated his
fight on the impounding clause, which
he declared would result in depart
ment discharging from 10 to is per
cent Of its employees, according to the
appropriation bill, and then taking S.3
per cent of the salaries Of the others.
Presidents Promise Quoted.
when we first considered the mat
ter" said Senator Bingham. I'VE were
told by the President that one reason
why he favored the furlough plan was
that it would result in saving money
without ony one losing his job"
In answer TO criticism of Senator
Reed and others that the section relat-
ing to the dismissal Of married workers
might result in breaking up Of families,
Senator Bratton said he did not believe
that the average husband and wife in
this country would forsake one an
other simply because the Government
is unwilling to give them two pay
checks and their next-door neighbor
likewise in the Government service
must give up his single pay check and
thereafter have no income in the
family"
Senator Reed, however, declared he
believed II a separation became neces-
sary for o time in order to protect the
home that q couple had bought. on
which installments are due, or in order
to provide for children, ANY husband
and wife with proper spirit would make
the sacrifice and would separate for the
time being"