Evening star., 1932-01-26
Promotions, New Employees
and Increases in Salary
Involved.
PASSAGE OF AGRICULTURE
FUND BILL SCHEDULED
Simmons Plans Motion to Recon-
init Providing for 5 Per Cent
Reduction in Force.
BY WILL P. KENNEDY.

Late today the House is expected to
take definite action on several ques-
tions affecting promotion of Govern
ment employees, appointment of new
employees in the Government service,
and the proposed cutting down of the
personnel In the Department of Agri-
culture, TO be followed by similar ac-
ton in other branches Of the Federal
service.
The agricultural appropriation bill is
expected to be passed late today. In
this bill the two final sections concern
Government employees, both as REGARDS
a prohibition against any increases IN
salary due to promotion, and another
prohibition against any new appoint
mentS to the service before July l,
1888.
When action has been completed in
the committee of the whole, and the
bill is brought into the House itself
for final action, Representative Robert
G. Simmons, Republican of Nebraska,
ranking minority member on the sub
committee that drafted the bill, has
served notice that he will offer a mo-
ton to recommit providing for 5 per
cent reduction in the force Of the de-
partment.
Proposals Bitterly Fought.
These proposals for interference with
the Government employees have been
bitterly fought, but it seems probable
the two sections in the bill which have
been safeguarded by special rule
making them in order are likely to be
approved. The prospects are that the
Simmons amendment for per cent
reduction in force will be rejected as
it has been opposed strenuously by
Chairman Bryns Of the Appropriations
Committee.
The two sections in the bill made in
order by the special rule, provide as
follows:
mo appropriation under the Depart
ment of Agriculture available during
the fiscal years 1882 and l933-which
means up to July l. l933-shall be used
(firstD TO increase the compensation OF
anv position within the grade to which
such position has been allocated unoer
the classification act; (second) to IN
crease the compensation of any posi-
ton in the field service, the pay OF
which is adjustable to correspond, SO
far as may be practicable, to the rates
established by the classification act:
(third) to increase the compensation OF
any DOSlGlOIl ullOCI Nl4E
act through reallocation; fourth) to
increase the compensation OF any per-
son in any grade through advancement
to another position in the same grade,
or TO a position in higher grade, at a
rate in excess of the minimum rate OF
the higher grade, unless such minimum
rate would call for an actual reductlon
in compensation; (ffth) to increase the
compensation of any other posltlon OF
the Federal Government under the De-
partment of Agriculture.
Treasury Would Get Savings.
The bill carries a provision that all
of fire appropriations saved by such
nrocedure shall be impounded and re-
turned to the Treasury and that a re-
mort on this amount shall be submitted
to Congress on the first day OF the next
regular session. -. 49,,
THE other section written into the
kill directs that no appropriation loF
the Department of Agriculture, avail
able UP TO July /, 1888, shall be uSeo
to pay the compensation OF an m
cumbent appointed to position under
the Federal Government which Is va
cant on the date the act is passed, or
any such position which may become
vacant after that date.
There is a provision that this inhibi-
ton shall not apply to absolutely es-
sential positions, the filling OF which
may be approved in writing by the
President. The saving in appropria-
tions under this section would also be
returned to the Treasury.
big Business" Accused.
Efforts to slash salaries OF Govern
ment employees and to order wholesale
reduction in personnel without study as
to how such action might cripple the
work of the various Federal activities
were vigorously fought on the House
floor Yesterday by Chairman Byrns OF
the House Appropriations Committee,
Representative William P. Connery OF
Massachusetts. chairman of the Com
mittee on Labor, and Representative
James M Fitzpatrick, Democrat, OF
New York.
Representative Connery declared the
members of the House are still under
the impression President Hoover does
not favor cutting anybody's salary,
statmentS by former Chairman Wood
of the Appropriations Committee to the
contrary notwithstanding He charged
there is a pay-cut conspiracy, engl-
neered by big business" which, ne en-
phasized. had already slashed wages
reduction program as an excuse to still
further take the dollars out Of the
pockets of those who do the work.
Representative Fitzpatrick put Repre-
sentative Simmons on record as opposed
TO a wholesale Slashing Of the Federal
pay roll when he asked him, as cham
pion Of the farmers. if he thought Fed
eral pay reductions would help the
farmers.
Mr.. Simmons replied that he re
peatedly had said that 1t would not.
l do not favor reductions in salaries,
said Mr. Simmons, Il ask anly elimi-
nation of personnel not doing essential
work.
Personnel Cut Move Fails.
Bvrns repulsed another attempt by
Representative Simmons to insert a
legislative rider ordering a reduction
in personnel throughout the Agricul-
ture Department.
There is no evidence in this record, -
said Mr.. Byrns-"not scintilla, which
would Justify the gentleman's reduction
in personnel. --.,.- >,
planned Chairman Byrns, in any prop
osition he makes TO cut these estimates,
provided he has the proof and provided
he does not in that connection cripple
the administration of this Government
I am a Democrat but do not want
to see the President of the United
States and his departments crippled In
the administration of the affairs OF
the Government, and / say that If we
plindly go along and cut the personnel
of these departments without the
slightest evidence per cent, we are
-VNe