Evening star., 1932-06-01

the total savings were $3.50 sos. 600. but
the committee last night struck cut a
proposed saving of S5l 100000 in vet
erans disability allowances, bringing
the total economies down to S238,605,-
O0O
FurlOughs without Pay.
The committee added a new section
authorizing and directing department
heads to order furloughs without pay
for such periods of time as may be
necessary TO avoid outright diSmlsSals
in cases where appropriations for per-
sonal services have been curtailed.
When the economy bill was being
drafted originally in the House the
President recommended a general fur
Tough plan for all employees above a
certain salary limit as substitute for
a straight cut in salaries. The Presi-
dents suggestion was that per diem
workers be put on a five-day week basis
and that annual employees take one
month without pay, scattered through
the year.
The House however. rejected the fur
lough proposal adopting instead a
limited pay cut plan calling for an IL
per cent cut in that part CT salary in
excess of $500.
Flat 10 Per Cent Cut.
This House proposal would have
saved $4,000, 900, according TO the Sem
ate committees estimate The Senate
struck this out md took the drastic
step of applying a fiat 10 per cent cut
without any salarY exemption. The
only exception made is for the enlisted
personnel of the Army, Navy and Ma
rine Corps. This Senate pay cut pro-
posal takes from the salaries Sl12050,-
600 more than the House bill called for.
The furlough clause inserted by the
Senate is designed only to ward off dis
missal of workers in those bureaus that
will have reduced appropriations for
personal services.
The Senate bill states that the 10 per
cent pay cut is for the fiscal year 1888
only. 1t provides, however, that retire
ment deductions authorized by law be
made from the regular salary and not
on the rate as temporarily reduced.
Under the present retirement law, en-
ployes contribute 81 per cent of their
basic salary to the retil ement fund
Other high lights in the Senate bill
are:
Elimination of the House clause which
would have prohibited any extensions of
time to employees reaching the retire
ment age.
Striking out of the House proviso
that would have enabled the President
to set aside the pay cuts If at any
time during the fiscal year the COM
modify price level should rise to GER
tain index figure.
s22,109,166 Saving.
Insertion of a provision that the re-
duction of annual leave Of employees
from 80 to Is days shall in no way
affect sick leave as allowed by existing
law. The committee estimates the re-
duction in annual leave Will save s22,-
109l66.
The Senate Committee retained the
House provisions giving the President
general authority to bring about consoli-
dation and reorganization of govern
mental agencies subject to the right of
either branch of Congress to disapprove
such an order within 60 days, in which
event the order would not become ef-
fective
The Senate. however. went further and
added a new paragraph enabling the
President to proceed, without waiting
60 DAYS for congressional ratification, to
consolidate the following activities:
Public health except hospitals under
the veterans administration, personnel
administration, merchant marine, con-
servation, education. Mexican Water and
Boundary Commission, and to merge
such activities of the War and Navy De-
partments relating to purchase of sup
plies and materials as are common TO
both and where the consolidation
thereof in either one of the departments
will effect economies in Federal expen-
ditures
Several Changes Made.
After three weeks of intensive study
by a special bipartisan subcommittee
the economy measure was laid before
the entire Senate Appropriations Com
mittee at pm. yesterday From then
until midnight, with slight Interrupt
tions to vote on amendments to the
tax bill in the Senate, the committee
went over the program.
In the last hours of dellberatlon the
entire committee made several changes
in the plan as drafted by the special
subcommittee. They We're:
Elimination of the section for crea-
ton of a public works administration
which would have taken over the func-
tions of several bureaus in different
departments.
elimination of the provision that
would have required married persons
to be dismissed first whenever reduc-
tions in personnel become necessary
If the husband or wife also is employed
by either the United States or Dis
trict Government.
The committee left in the bill a
provision that hereafter. in the making
of new appointments to the Govern
ment service, preference shall be given
to persons other than married persons
If the husband or wife is already ir
the service.
Permanent Reductions.
In addition 70 The 10 per cent tenn.
porary cut for one year in all salaries
except enlisted men of the military
services, the Senate Committee ordered
a permanent reduction in the salaries
Of members of certain boards and COM
missions The House bill had section
on this subject which the Senate Com
mittee struck out, substituting the fol-
lowing:
Beginning July l, 1882, the salarie:
If the commissioners of the United
States Shipping Board, the members
of the Federal Farm Board except the
Secretary of Agriculture), members Of
the Board of Mediation, the commits
Sioners of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, the administrator of vet
terans' affairs, the members of the
United States Tariff Commission, the
American commissioner of the General
Claims Commission. United States anC
Mexico, and the umpire and American
commissioner of the Mixed Claims Com.
mission, United States and Germany
shall be at the rate of $4,000 per an.
mum; and after June 80, 1882 no Officer
or employe of the Federal Farm Board
United States Shipping Board Mer.
chant Fleet Corporation or of any Gov
ernmental function named in this sec.
ton shall receive salary at rate
in eyress Of SIN nm r,er apn,lp,