Evening star., 1932-01-20
HOOVER OPPOSES
GENERAL PAY CUT.
Would Welcome Individual
Reductions in interests of
Government Economy.
Continued From First Page.)

ployes who are overpaid, and it would
be these latter that he would be salts
fie6 to see reduced.
Privately Mr.. Hoover has expressed
his opposition to proposals for general
salary SlashinS with three definite rea-
sons. First, the efficiency and morale
CT the Government would be lowered;
second, q bad example would be set py
the Government for private business
throughout the country, and third tne
purchasing power would be necessarily
reduced.
Wood View Not Confirmed.
Nothing was said at the White House
TODAY regarding this subject that !AOuld
be taken as a confirmation OF the
declaration made in the House yester-
day by Representative Wood, that
President Hoover would approve gen.
eral reduction in Federal salaries.
The President was represented fur-
ther as having repeatedly said that ne
would be glad to see Congress make
REDUCTIONS beyond the budget esti
mates II the proper and just function
ing of the Government could be pre-
served
II was explained that Congress is en-
rsged in examining budget estimates
and in studying the finances OF the
Government and in the event this work
viii result in the enactment Of legisla-
tion providing for further reduction, the
president will pass on these individual
measures as they come TO him. ana ne
will consider them upon their merlIs,
esDectally as to the particular groups
that would be affected in the mater Oh
wage reductions. . -,
fhs president. 1t was said in his oehan'
,irYII after a careful study Of each IN
dividual case. Furthermore, II was
hointed out at the White House today In
the matter of reducing incomes, some
Of the employees will have their incomes
reduced by reason Of having to pay IN
The President also viii be guided in
studying the subject by just how far II
win be necessary to go in the matter OF
actual economy to meet the treasury
deficit.
f, The President. however, was said TO
prefer waiting until these salary reouc-
fion proposals come to him in definite
form before expressing himself pu0hcly'
Denies Hoover Opposition.
In spite of the repeated authoritative
statements that President Hoover is
onuosed to proposals for slashfng into
the salaries of Government employees,
REPRESENTATIVE Wood denied yesterday
in the House that this is true. -,
"The President of the United States,
he insisted. "B not opposed to recuc-
ton Of salaries on the Government
pay roll"
This precipitated a general debate,
with many members OF the House In
terrupting Representative Wood with
questions indicating their determina-
ton against approval of any Federal
nav cuts. These included Chairman
Cochran Of the House Expenditures
Committee, which recently tabled four
measures provising for salary reduc-
tions; Representative Gibson, Repup-
lican. of Vermont; Parsons, Democrat
of Illinois; Rudd, Democrat, OF New
York, and others.
Holds Presidents Wealth Cut.
During this questioning Wood stated
that it was his understanding that
President Hoover, reputed generally to
be a multimillionaire, actually was
worth now less than million dollars.
Asked by Representative Shannon,
Democrat, of Missouri, whether Presl-
dent Hoover would approve reduction
OF his salary, Wood said:
He has made lot of money, but
has given it away My information,
from reliable source, is that the Pres
ident today is not worth million dol
lars" =,
turning on his questioner, Wood
added:
II have faith enough to believe that
ifithe salaries of the Federal employees
are reduced, President Hoover will re-
6Uce his own salary.
under the Constitution, Congress
cannot reduce the salary of President
in, office, but can enact law reducing
the next Presidents salary.
He has more than reduced 1t 10
times since this depression has come by
donations he has made.
He has given more than $4,000 to
the charitable institutions OF this city
alone"
Asks About Wealth.
Shannon then inquired: Would the
gentleman please give us some informa-
ton on the reputed wealth OF the
President"
Wood said he did not know anything
about "the reputed wealth Of the Pres
ident"
''Is it not common runner that he is
worth many many millions?" Shannon
persisted
Eyes. and I say to the gentleman that
I am informed that that is a mistake.
OF course, that is q matter with which
the gentleman and / have little con-
cern, but in answer to the gentleman's
question. and in orCer to set right the
false impression that has gone over the
country am informed that the Presi-
dent is not worth a million"
Representative Wood, who was speak
ing on Government extravaganza, said
the hospitals are full Of persons draw
ing pensions, He mentioned Cn7 p-tient
at Walter Reed who is drawing $50
disability pay, while his wife Is getting
$4,000 pay from the Government. He
said this mans disability is not Suffi-
Gent TO keep him away from the race
track or poker table.
Sees Huge Saving.
Mr.. Wood said if the transport sys-
tenn OF the Army and Navy were aboi-
ished 1t would save the American people
$4,000, 900 900 a year.
Launching into his attack on the Fed
eral pay roll, Representative Wood de-
clsred: II cannot understand why Gov
eminent clerks, paid out of the Treas
ury, are so inSistent that their salaries
shall not be reduced. This is incon-
sistent with conditions throughout the
world, when other nations, States and
cities are reducing the salaries Of public
employees"
Mr.. Wood argued that salaries were
increased since the war on account Of
the high cost Of living but that the cost
Of living has been reduced so per cent,
and yet the Government employees are
opposing salary reductions.
Representative Gibson Of Vermont
was unable to secure from Mr.. Wood
nf the roll
In the Federal services, but when he
asked Mr.. Wood how much would be
saved by 10 per cent reduction in
salaries Mr.. Wood estimated that the
saving would be upward Of q hundred
million dollars.
Mr.. Wood said that when the Satur-
day half-holidsy bill was under con-
sideration Congress was assured that
it would cost the Government nothing