Evening star., 1933-02-05
Bratton Measure to Have De-
partments Reduce Expenses
Proves Hitch.
BINGHAM WITHDRAWS
! 2-3 PER CENT PLAN
Treasury-Post Office Appropriation
Items Disposed of-Economy
Debate Continues.
BY J. A. O'LEARY,

The Senate late yesterday postponed
action on the new pay cut of 12a per
cent on Government salaries until after
decision has been reached within the
next few days on the Bratton proposal
to require all Government departments
to reduce their expenditures next year
by 5 per cent below whatever appro-
priations Congress makes for each de-
partment.
Turning to the general economy pro-
gram late in the afternoon, after hav-
ing disposed of the Treasury-Post Office
appropriation items, the Senate
launched into debate over the new pay
| cut, which, added to the present ga
per cent furlough, would impose total
| reduction of 10 per cent on Uncle Sans
workers.
1t soon developed, however. that
there was considerable opposition to
passing immediate judgment on the
lz3 per cent cut, in view of the pos
sibility that salaries might be reduced
still further If, later on, the Bratton
per cent saving plan should go
through without exempting salaries.
Bingham Wi.hdraws Amendment.
Senator Bingham, Republican, of
Connecticut, in charge of the Economy
Committee report. then Withdrew the
123 per cent salary cut amendment
for the time being. He said when
the Senate resumes work tomorrow 1t
will proceed to act on the various other
phases Of the economy measure and
go back to the pay-cut section after
the Senate has determined what it
wants to do with the general saving
Of per cent on the total Of each bill
proposed by Senator Bratton. Demo-
crat, of New Mexico.
Senators Costtgan, Democrat @ Coi.
orado, and Oddie, Republican 6f Ne.
vada, took the lead in opposing further
pay cuts as the debate got under way,
and It was Senator La Toilette Re.
publican Of Wisconsin, who pointed out
the Senate should first find out def.
nitely whether salaries are TO be re-
duced through the Bratton SaMngs
plan before it votes On the direct per-
centage cut OF 13s per cent.
Suggested by President
In presenting the committee recon-
mendationS Senator Bingham said the
President had suggested that an II per
cent pay cut be added to the existing
furlough plan, that the committee had
gone into the matter thoroughly and
came to the recommendation for an
additional cut of 12s per cent.
This will bring all salaries under
s12 900 a year up to a total reduction
Of 10 per cent"
II opposed the 12s per cent addi-
tional cut in committee" said Senator
Oddie. TT may not sound like large
amount, but when you consider the
! number of Federal employees receiving
small salaries, 1t will mean the differ
ence between their present condition
and positive suffering. 1t is false
economy
Senator Walsh, Democrat of Massa-
chusetts, wanted to know how much
the additional cut would save the Gov
eminent. and Senator Bingham replied,
SIT 100000.
Senator Walsh then inquired il 1t
embraced a cut in salaries of members
of the House and Senate, and Senator
Bingham said it did not, pointing out
| that they are now on a 10 per cent
| cut basis.
Fears 171a Per Cent Cut.
Senator Costigan then took the floor
! in opposition to the new cut. contendlng
| that If the Bratton proposal for gen.
eral saving of per cent goes through
without safeguard against taking this
saving from salaries. some employees
would face the possibility of an aggre-
gate cut next year of l7l2 per cent.
The Senate few days ago adopted
! the Bratton amendment for the Treas
ury and Post Office Departments, and.
while Costigan succeeded in having it
worded SO that none of this saving
could be effected by further pay cuts
or furloughs, Senator Bingham has
| filed a motion to reconsider the Costi-
gan restriction.
Calling attention to this possible re-
consideration of his amendment, CoSti-
gan said if his amendment should be
repealed and the 12s per cent cut ap-
proved, employees in the postal service,
for example, would face three pay cuts.
He said that while the Bratton amend
ment calls for a total saving of 5 per
cent in the Treasury and Post Office
Departments, If irreducible fixed charges
are eliminated, salaries might be cut
| Tx per cent If his amendment to the
Bratton amendment is rescinded. In
that event, he said, these Post Office
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