Evening star., 1932-01-10
A Definite Declaration Required.

A uSunlLc OcClhTdLlOu nCQ uLlCut
The tabling Of four bills proposing
curtailment Of Government salaries, by
the House Committee on Expenditures
in the Executive Departments, should
definitely end the movement to effect
Federal economies. These measures IN
clusively provide reductions of pay
covering all grades. They were consid-
cred by the committee as whole and
without discrimination were tabled after
their several proponents had been
heard. The committee did not hear
the statements Of those opposed to the
bills. The chairman of the COMMITTEES
made the following statement after the
meeting:
Some Of the members Of the COM
1nittee made it plain that their votes
did not indicate that they would not
support legislation affecting those who
receive high salaries, while others also
announced they would vote for re-
duction of their own salaries. but the
committee did as a whole indicate by
its action that it would not approve a
reduction of salaries for those who now
receive barely living wage.
1t Is due TO the Government en-
ployes, especially those whose salaries
are in the lower ranges, who could
tll-afYord any curtailment Of income,
that this matter be definitely disposed
of in the negative now. The authors
Of the various measures for salary cur
tailment, however, have indicated a
disposition to proceed, perhaps present.
ing their curtailment propositions to
the Committee on Appropriations.
The economy effected by ten per
cent reduction of Government pay
would be relatively small. Its effect
upon the country. however, would be
serious. 1t would make an example
certain to be followed by employers
In every line Of business and industry.
Washington alone would not suffer
from such q reduction Of income. There
are many thousands Of Government
workers elsewhere than at the Capital,
whose pay at best is meager and is
IN this time of depression barely equal
10 living requirements.
Government pay, especially In the
lower grades Of the service, is not high.
1t was not increased during the period
OF advancing compensations in private
employment. At the peak Of the period
OF prosperity In this country the Gov
eminent workers were below the aver
age, while their expenses were as great
as those in other occupations. The re-
duotions that have been made in
private employment during the past
two years have barely equalized the
scales, II that. Government pay re-
duction. therefore, would send the
thousands of Federal employees back
down the scale TO point even below
the ratio of 1929, For many thousands
OF Government workers are at this time
and for the past year or two have been
extending help to others in need and
thus lesSening their own net incomes.
The possibility Of pay reduction
Threatened by these measures that have
just been tabled by the House COM
mittee causes the gravest anxiety on
the part of multitude of people. They
should be relieved of this menace by q
positive action, more definite than that
of the House Committee on Expendi-
ltures in the Executive Departments,
The Governments exigencies do not
require this paltry economy. The morale
of the country does require the example
that would be set by distinct declsra-
ton by Congress that there will be no
pay cutting at this session.