Evening star., 1934-01-23
HOUSE TO APPROVE
SENATEPAy ACTION
Anxious for Upper Branch to
Raise Salaries of U. S.
Workers.
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

The house will approve whatever lib
eralization of salary cuts for Govern
ment employees the Senate may make
in the economy section Of the inde-
pendent Offices appropriation bill House
members are eager for another roll call
vote, in which they can go on record
for their constituents.
II was said by House leaders today
that putting through the economy pay
cut provisions under the gag rule was the
hardest job that has been or will be
undertaken in the House and that the
same gag rule would not be adopted If
the vote was taken today.
OF the 1877 stalwartS who stood by the
President when a change of only three
votes was necessary to defeat the new
pay cut provision. probably twoscore
have already voiced their regret and
expressed an impatience to get an op-
portunity to change their vote. Many
of these are assuring the Senators that
if they viii liberalize the pay provisions
they will get overwhelming support in
the House.
Subcommittee Favorable.
The three members of the Subcom-
mittee that drafted the independent
offices appropriation bill. who will act
as conferees If the Senate changes the
pay cut section, are ready to agree to
the Senate amendment in conference.
These are Representatives Woodrum Of
Virginia Boylan of New York. Demo-
Gratis, and Wigglesworth of MaSsachu-
Setts. Republican. The subcommittee
on the independent Offices bill was
unanimous for full pay restoration.
Leader Byrns as they frankly express
it. 'ate plenty of crow" in leading the
fight in support of the Presidents pro-
gram Many of their colleagues in the
House whom they induced to vote for
the gag rule for the economy provisions
are decidedly provoked at being forced
to follow their lead
If the bill comes back from the Sem
ate with any change in the economy
section, there are at least 40 House
Democrats ready to object to unani-
nous consent request sending the bill
to conference without a roll call.
Some of the parliamentarians Of the
House have been figuring whether there
is some way in which the House now
can take the initiative to liberaliZe
economy provisions through an amend
ment on some other appropriation bill.
but they find themselves pretty much
up against stone wall in the face Of
adoption of the now famous gag rule.
There even has been a suggestion that
the House might recall the independent
Offices appropriation bill so the House
members might reverse their action.
Neither of these efforts, however, is
likely to be carried out. The general
attitude in the House is to wait and see
what action the Senate will take on
the salary question. II the Senate sup
ports the Presidents program, then the
question is settled legislatively. leaving
it entirely to the Presidents discretion
to make whatever restoration of salaries
he believes justifiable.
Taking the view that it Is unfair to
apply the same percentage of reduction
to low salaries as the percentage taken
from high salaries, Senator Borah, Re-
publican of Idaho, said today he would
favor Senate action on the Independent
Offices bill that would afford greater re-
lief to the low-paid Government
workers.
He indicated that he favors restoring
as much as possible of the pay cut
1Contip1yod nv, Dooo . CoI,,,,,,, -