Evening star., 1933-03-12
ECONOMY MEASURE
| PASSED BY HOUSE.
Roosevelt Granted Authority
to Cut Veterans Funds
and U. S. Pay.
Continued From First Fage.)

Democrats voting for the bill was 68.2
and the percentage Of Republicans,
62.5.i The Farmer-Laborites voted 100
per cent against the measure.
The Presidents economy bill still
has to pass the Senate. 1t will be
called up in that body for consideration
tomorrow, Senator Harrison Of Missis-
sippi, chairman of the Finance Com
mittee, said last night. The bill was
reported favorably from the COMMITTEES
yesterday and placed on the Senate
calendar. The committee first made a
riSon characterized as immaterial.
The Senate will pass the bill, it was
predicted last night by the Republican
leader Senator McNary of Oregon, and
by Senator Harrison. Senator Harrison
said that he hoped" to pass the bill
In the Senate tomorrow. Under the
rule Of unlimited debate, however, this
is exceedingly doubtful.
40 Declared Non-Partisan Measure.
Senator McNary said he would call
the Republicans to meet in conference
at 1890 am. tomorrow, not to seek to
bind the Senators, but merely to dis
cuss the measure. He did not commit
himself finally to the bill as it was re-
ported. but indicated he was inclined
to support It, Senator Harrison said
that 'the bill will be passed by Demo-
cratic and Republican votes IN the Sen
ate: it is a non partisan measure" At
present he has no intention of seeking
a Democratic caucus to bind the Sem
ators to support the measure. 1t Is
believed that the bill will be supported
by about two-thirds of the Republican
members of the Senate and by as large
If not larger percentage of the Demo-
Gratis in that body.
In the House Democratic caucus.
called to take action on the economy
bill before the session yesterday, re-
volt against the provisions dealing with
the veterans and their pensions and
compensations sprang up in threaten
ing fashion. Representative Browning
of Tennessee offered an amendment
which would have limited all cuts in
pension and compensation to Is per
cent and would have prohibited the
President from removing any of the
veterans or beneficiaries from the rolls
Original Bill Maintained.
BY vote of 1853 to 112 the Brown
ing amendment prevailed in the caucus.
This waSthe high-water mark, however,
Of the revolt against the President S
bill and the Democratic leadership of
the House, which backed the President
100 per cent. After the Browning
amendment had been approved by the
caucus, that body declined to bind the
Democrats on the bill, the vote standing
174 to 108, less than the necessary
two-thirds vote to bind the members
In ho ja c. IL
went before the House as 1t originally
came from the White House, and with
no caucus action by the Democrats.
At a meeting Of Republican leaders in
the office of Representative Smell, the
minority leader, it was decided to sup
port the bill.
The Democratic leaders, in the party
caucus, worked like beavers to prevent
the adoption of binding rule on the
economy bill after the caucus had ap-
proved the Browning amendment
The bill was laid before the House
for consideration under a resolution
calling for two hours of debate and
which gave no opportunity to offer
amendments.
The Speaker ruled, however, that
motion to recommit could be made be-
fore the bill was finally passed.
Motion to Reccmmit.
When the time came for motion to
recommit. Representative Connery of
Massachusetts,, Democrat, and Repre-
sentative Browning were both on their
feet demanding recognition. Connery was
recognized by Speaker Rainey, however,
and made simple motion to recommit
the bill to the Economy Committee. This
motion cut of all chance Of Representa-
tive Browning's proposed motion to
recommit with instructions to report
back the bill containing his amendment.
Only one motion to recommit a bill Is
possible under the House rules.
Browning asked the Speaker II the
fact his amendment had been adopted
in the House Democratic caucus did not
give him the right to make the motion
to recommit.
THE House has no knowledge Of what
happened In the caucus" was the reply
Of the Speaker, greeted with laughter.
On division the Connery motion to
recommit was defeated to 272 to 80.
Despite the groans and protests which
went up from the membership, Repre-
sentative McDuf6e of Alabama, in charge
CT the bill, demanded a roll vote on its
passage. TIE vote was ordered and the
members put ION the spot" The result
was far more satisfactory to the Demo-
cratic leaders than had been feared i'm
mediately after the party caucus had
broken up.
Two Hours Debate.
The two hours of debate was con-
troled on the Democratic side by Repre-
sentative McDufie and OF the Republic
an side, by Representative Taber Of
New York, both members Of the Spe-
ciai Economy Committee.
Representative Rankin of Mississippi,
who opposed the bill, demanded that
half the time be turned over to the
opponents Of the bill. McDufie and
Taber said they would give time to the
opposition, but declined to make any
definite allotment.
Majority Leader Byrns and Minority
Leader Smell, both took the floor dur
ing the debate and called upon the
members to support the President in
the great emergency which confrontS
the country.
1.-The President" said MIR. Byrns,
will not do any injustice to any class
Of American citizens. want to appeal
to my Democratic friends particularly.
Are you going to deny to your Presi-
dent the responsibility he Is seeking to
assume in this emergency? The situa-
ton Is serious. It Is more critical than
war time. The people are looking to
the President to restore confidence and
to bring about relief. This is his bill.
It is an administration measure. If
you vote against this bill you vote to.
handicap the President"
Praises G. O. p. Support.
Referring to the support pledged the
President by many Of the Republican
speakers during the debate, Mr.. Byrns
said:
II hope the Democrats will not be
less loyal to the President today than
are these gentlemen on the other side
of the aisle, who have spoken in his sup
Fort. What will the country say If it
goes out that Congress is not standing
behind the PreSident?"