Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-06-04
SENATE DEFEATS
$500 EXEMPTION
Johnson Salary Cuts Plan
Lost, 81 to 25-Other
Proposals Loom.
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lContinued From First Page)
hurst, Bulow, Mrs. Caraway Coolidge.
Copeland, Costigan. Logan, McGill.
Nicely, Pittman, Wagner, Walsh of
Massachusetts, and Wheeler; 10
Republicans for the amendment:
Blaine. Capper, Kerry. Cutting, Davis,
johnson. Kean, Keyes, Oddie. Robin
son Of Indiana, Shortridge; II.
Observation-Disclosures, for the
amendment.
Delayed by Blaine Attack.
Vote on the proposed Federal nav cut
plans was delayed this morning while
Senator Blaine of Wisconsin con-
tinued his attack on alleged postal and
snip subsidies, which he charged have
contributed to the Governments I'M
balanced budget.
Outspoken in opposition to any Fed
eral pay cut Senator Blaine said he
proposed to show that "wasteful, extrav-
agant and unjustifiable appropriations"
are responsible for the so-called Fed
eral economy bill. This measure, he
said, not only would reduce the pay of
the Government employe, but take out
OF the pockets of the poor, sick and
disabled war veterans the money neces-
sary to continue payment of their ex-
Blaine was particularly bitter in his
denunciation of alleged ship and postal
subsidies. He charged the airmail sub
sidy alone last year added $4,000, 900
to the unbalanced budget. Publishers
OF newspapers, magazines and other
periodicals, he said. also were subsidized
last year to the extent Of S97, 000, 900
the amount 1t cost the Treasury to
make up the deficit In the second class
postal rate.
In other words" declared Blaine.
the newspapers and periodicals Of tins
country are subsidized to the amount Of
nearly $97,000000. Every single scoun.
drel Of them is prof1ting from the to-
payers Of the country. Let US snatch
from their faces the cloak Of hypocrisy.
These are times when plain words must
,e spoken in this chamber and out Of f.
These are times when the subsidies ~
not going to get away with thetJ ID
without challenge.
These selfish, grating ntsDasa1
would not hesitate to steal copper pen
MES from the eyes of dead man unless
there was some richer field In which to
operate. But they find q richer field
N the Government Of the United
States
Attacks Veterans Plan.
Blaine next attacked the section of
the economy bill dealing with war vet
Grams, declaring there is one provision
in the measure under which a veteran
ordered to a hospital by the Veterans
I'M q
permitted to draw his compensation
during that time. He argued this would
work hardship on dependents of such
veterans and described it as an "un-
justifiable proposition" Such action,
he said, could not be defended except
on the ground of necessity or emer-
gency but he insisted that no emer-
gency exists that would justify such a
move at this time.
A petition 252 feet long protesting
against the proposed Government pay
cut was exhibited by Senator Buckley,
Democrat. of Ohio as debate was re-
sumed today. Signed. he said. by
so 600 Cleveland residents. the petition
asserted the salary reduction or a fur
Tough without pay would reduce pur-
chasing power and tend to prolong the
depression"
Tydings Presses for Beer.
In addition to the various sliding
scales and exemptions for low salaries
that have been proposed during the de-
bate, it is probable President Hoover's
furlough plan will be suggested as an
alternative for the fiat 10 per cent pay
cut before final vote is taken.
This contemplates five-day week for
per diem workers. instead of five and a
half days. For those on the annual ba-
sis it would mean the equivalent. or one
month Of furlough scattered through
the year with an exemption for the
loWeSt-paid salaries.
Another development before a final
vote will be the effort of Senator Tyd-
ings, Democrat, of Maryland, to have
legalize 275 per cent beer to raise
revenue. This he argued yesterday,
would enable Congress to save the
lower-paid Government workers from a
pay cut and at the same time make
more money available toward balancing
the budget
Tydings first offered his beer proposal
as an amendment to the johnson
amendment to exempt salaries below
$4,000 from the 10 per cent pay cut
He later agreed, however, to withdraw
it in that form and offer it separately.
Previous efforts to legalize beer for
revenue during the present session have
all been defeated.
Senator Vandenberg Republican, Of
Michigan has worked out, informally,
graduated scale which would start at
l per cent and go up to 20 per cent. 1t
would save Sl24000, 900, as compared
with savings of sl2l ,05o000 under the
straight 10 per cent cut plan. but the
percentage OF reduction would be low
on the small salaries, increasing as the
pay increases. It would not involve a
10 per cent cut until the 50 900 bracket
Is reached and would not touch any
salary under s1,l00.
Suggests Sliding Scale.
Senator Vandenberg worked out the
amendment primarily to see what
could be accomplished in the direction
of sliding scale, and it was not GER
tain this morning whether he would
submit 1t for vote. 1t is known the
cents furlough plan as the best solu-
ton, but he may suggest his sliding
scale If some other compromise is not
adopted.
A graduated scale of pay cuts ranging
from 3 to Is per cent on salaries Of
more than 81 900 was proposed earlier
by Senator Walsh, Democrat, of Massa-
chusetts, as substitute for the fiat
10 per cent reduction.
Walsh told the Senate the graduated
scale had been drafted by a group Of
Senators and would provide an esti-
mated saving of $4,000. 900.
The schedule would make the fol-
lowing cuts: Salaries between 1000
and $500. 3 per cent 81 500 to $4,000,
4 per cent: $4,000 to $4,000. per cent;
$4,000 to $4,000, 7i2 per cent; 5000 to
$4,000, 10 per cent; $1,000 to $4,000.
1871 per cent; $4,000 and over, IS per
cent.