Evening star., 1932-06-02
NORRIS PROPOSES
NEW PAY CUT PLAN
Offers Senate Substitute Ex.
empting Salaries of Less
Than $1,50O.
Continued From First Page.)

Continued From First Page.)
expenses Of these employees have come
down, he said food and clothing are
the only substantial items of expense
that are lower, and that the interest
on mortgages, the cost of insurance
and the cost of sending children to
school have not come down.
Senator Connally, Democrat, Of
Texas, wanted to know why enlisted
personnel of the Army, Navy and
Marine Corps were exempted from the
10 per cent pay cut, saying some OF
them get $2.2-0 year. Senator Byrnes
replied that enlisted men cannot leave
the service whenever they choose, and
the committee took this into considera-
t:on. Senator Byrnes also said this
exemption was included at the request
OF the President.
Senator Logan said If employees re-
ceiving under $1,000 a year were
exempted from the pay cut. it would
eliminate $4,330,000 of the suggested
saving, and that the exemption OF those
between 81 900 and $4,000 year would
together, he said that If all those under
$4,000 we're exempted the amount taken
from estimated economies would be
$40 100000.
He pointed out that the bill contains
authority for department heads to use
the furlough system to avoid dismissals
where limited appropriations make II
necessary, and suggested that Congress,
instead Of cutting salaries should let
heads of the departments work out the
problem of fitting the work Of their de-
partments to limited appropriations.
Pay Cut Strikes Snag.
The storm of opposition to a fiat 10
per cent cut in all Federal and Dis
trict salaries began to gather as soon
as the economy program was taken up
in the Senate yesterday afternoon.
The first half of the legislative sup
ply bill, containing the routine appro-
priat.ons for Congress and its related
agencies, was acted on rapidly, but
when the general economy section,
comprising the second part Of the bill,
was reached it Immediately struck a
snag on the pay-cut proposal
For more than an hour group Of
half dozen Senators deplored the
principle adopted by the committee OF
tion to all, whether they get S700 a
year or $4,000 a year.
1t was decided to adjourn until to-
day without acting on the pay-cut
paragraph after Senator Norris, Re
publican, of Nebraska, had issued a
warning that he would oppose any ef-
fort to rush the various appropria-
ton bills through as a means of con-
Guiding the business of Congress be-
fore the national party conventions
this month.
Chairman Jones Of the Senate Ap-
propriations Committee said he did not
think that could be done and agreed
with Norris the appropriation bills
should be accorded proper consideration
Among those who took the lead yes
terday in opposing the 10 per cent
cut in the low-salaried groups were
Senators johnson, Republican. Of CAL
ifornia: Nye. Republican, of North Da-
kota Trammell, Democrat. of Florida,
and Thomas, Democrat, Of Oklahoma
Senator Borah. Republican, Of Idaho.
joined Norris in urging that time be
given Senators to study the details of
the economy program pointing out tina.
only the members of the Appropriations
Committee knew what was in it until
yesterday morning.
Tydings Makes Special Plea.
Senator Tydings. Democrat, of Mary
land, made a special plea on behalf of
large groups Of Government employees
whose regular hours of employment
are at night, such as in the Govern
| ment Printing Office. He expressed fear
/, that, as drawn, the bill would impose
a double cut on these employees. These
| employees receive higher compensation
because they work at night. The bill
stops extra pay for overtime or night
work. Tydings said 1t appeared these
| men would lose the extra compensa-
ton for night work and also suffer a
| 10 per cent cut.
Chairman Jones said it was not the
| intention to make double reduction,
and promised to look carefully into the
question raised by Tydings.
| Senator Thomas Of Oklahoma put
| forward plan of taking approximately
| $500. 900 900 of public works money out
| Of all the appropriation bills for next
| year and Incorporating 1t in the con-
templated relief bill, to be financed by
| a bond issue over a period of years
II this were done, he said, it would not
be necessary to cut the salaries of
low-paid workers This pay cut, he
said. could then start at $1,000 or
$4,000 and be applied upward on a
graduated scale.
Senator johnson of California said
the 10 per cent pay cut on low-salaried
workers would be about as conducive
to the health of a human being to
let all the blood from his body"
Chairman Jones began the debate
by telling the Senate the special econ
omy subcommittee devoted days and
| days to the salary problem
1T Is very difficult matter to deal
WITH" Senator Jones continued I'VE
had different ideas as to what should
De done IN regard to economies as re-
lating to Government employees. Some
contended no cut should be made at
all. Others contended for a different
method OF procedure. There were OBJ
Jections, Of course, made to every sug-
gestion.
Cites Private Business Cuts.
1T looks to be little hard on Gov
eminent employees and Government
clerks. who are not overpaid in any
event. to further reduce their salaries
during these times. But we all appre-
ciate the situation. We all appreciate
what has been done in private business
generally. Reductions have been made,
sometimes twice, and in some cases
more than twice. I think there is a
pretty general feeling throughout the
country that the Government employees
should bear some part of the reduc-
ton"
Senator Jones said he felt there
ought to be some difference made be-
tween the higher and the lower paid
20 years of service has
brought to me a large per.
centape of patients referred