Evening star., 1932-03-18
Flat Reduction of 10 Per
Cent Seen as Easiest Way
to Readjust Pay Rates.
GRADUATED SCALE PLAN
ALSO BEING CONSIDERED
Special Subcommittee Spends
Morning With Chief Of Bureau
of Efficiency.

The Governments salary -Slashing
measure, which is being drafted for the
new Economy Committee Of the House
by a special subcommittee consisting OF
Representatives McDuffe, Alabama
Douglas, Arizona, and Wood, Indiana,
is expected to be reported to the House
on Monday.
This was stated today by Representa-
tive McDuffie following an all-morning
conference which was attended by
Chairman Byrns Of the House Appro-
priations Committee, with Herbert d
Brown, chief Of the United States
Bureau Of Efficiency, as the witness,
Mr.. Brown presented a number Of
charts showing the effect of nat rates
or graduated percentage rates of re-
duction applied to various salary
grades throughout the Government
service.
Brown Explains Tables.
Mr.. Brown explained in detail to
the subcommittee the tables prepared
by the Budget Bureau and by the Bu-
reau of Efficiency showing the number
of employees at the various salary rates
throughout the entire Federal service
and how various percentages of reduc-
ton would affect the salaries of the
employe, and what it would mean In
saving to the Government. His en-
tire explanation was to the effect that
the salary reductions proposed would
mean relatively little In actual saving
especially as compared with the hard
ship that would result to already un-
derpaid Federal workers.
Mr.. Brown pointed out that only 4
per cent Of the pay roll receives above
$4,000 a year. The total Of salaries
above $1,000 Is $44, ,662 900. A 10 PEI
cent cut on these salaries, he pointed
out, would yield saving Of less than
$4,000, 900.
He also called attention to the COM
mittee that the total of all salaries
including both civil and military EN-
ployes, Is $1,315, ,69o, 900. This include;
many thousands who are receiving verJ
small salaries, including all In thf
Army and Navy, charwomen and watch.
men and many par-time and seasonal
employees, such as fire guards In ma
tional forests, etc.
Representative McDufie revealed
that while he and some members Of
Congress believe fiat 10 per cent re-
duction Is the easiest way Of siashine
Government salaries, there are large
number of members Of the House who
believe that q graduated scale Of per-
centage reduction would be more equit-
able and would yield much greater
saving. Among these is Chairman
Byrns, who declared himself opposed
to the fiat rate reduction,
Consider All Salaries.
Representative McDufie said that
under consideration by the subcommit-
tee Is a proposal to cut salaries of all
Government employees, even down tc
those receiving only S700 year. He
suggested that the l per cent rate
might be applied on salaries under
81 900, running up to q rate Of 20 per
cent on salaries Of 10000 and over
which would include members OF
Congress.
Connally Offers Scale.
Meanwhile a new move to reduce
Government salaries was launched in
the Senate, when Senator Connally,
Democrat of Texas, brought forward a
bill affecting all Federal oficials and
employees above $4,000.
The Connally bill contains a gradu-
ated scale as follows: Salaries ranging
from $4,000 to $4,000, per cent cut
from $4,000 to $4,000, 10 per cent,
and above $4,000, Is per cent. The
proposed reductions would apply until
June 80. 1888.
"It Is imperative that the expenses
of the Federal Government be reduced, I"
Senator Connally said. Drastic econ
omy Is necessary. The staggering deficit
Of $4,000, 100000 incurred during the
past two years Of the Hoover admin
istration must be met, not alone by
new taxes, but by rigid and radical re-
duction Of expenses.
Tax Burden Heavy.
Federal officials and employees ought
to be willing TO make some sacrifices
in this time of distress and disaster.
am willing that my own salary be
reduced and my bill cuts 81 900 annual
ly from the salaries of members of
Congress and Senators. These are un-
usual and tragic times. The taxpayers
are now bearing a tremendous burden.
They will be called upon to bear more.
1T Is to be hoped that Federal Of
ficials and employees will welcome the
opportunity to bear their share of the
responsibility in meeting the issues of
this critical period. The proposed re-
ductions are temporary, being limited
to June 80, 1888, when 1t is hoped that
times may become more nearly nor
NAL The bill will save the taxpayers
of the United States millions upon mil
lions of dollars. 1t will give splendid
example to the country Of the desire Of
the officeholders and employees to
share in the contribution which our
people are called upon to make to the
Government in the midst Of its Diff
ficulties.
Those who draw their livelihood from
the Government must patriotically re-
spond in this hour of the Governments
bitter need"
Another important disclosure today
is that the legislative appropriation bill
may be rushed into the House next
week in order that 1t may be used as
a vehicle to carry through the pro-
posed salary slashing. The independ-
ent Offices appropriation bill Is unfin-
ished business in the House, tempo
rarily laid aside for consideration Of
the tax bill The tax bill Is expected
to consume at least another week. The
strategy Is considered Of letting the
Offices bill continue as un-
business and to take up the
legislative appropriation bill immedi-
ately following the tax bill.
It has been threatened for some time
that an effort would be made in the
legislative appropriation bill to reduce
Government salaries, and that the try
out Of strength of those advocating sal
ary slashing would be made on this bill,
The probability was discussed today Of
attempting to place the salary slash
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