Evening star., 1934-01-10
Independent Offices Measure
Continues Economy Re-
strictions for 1885.
RESTORES 5 PER CENT
BEGINNING NEXT JULY
Eliminates Automatic Increases for
Army, Navy and Marine Corps,
Despite Presidents Request.

After spirited fight in the House
Appropriations Committee, with Re-
publican members protesting against
continuation Of salary cuts by voting
mo" on the motion to report the bill,
the independent offices appropriation
bill, the first of the big supply meas
ures carrying funds for support Of 16
Government establishments, was report
ed to the House today. 1t provides for
10 per cent cut in salaries, as COM
pared with Is per cent for the current
year.
The bill as reported carries a total
of $3.50, ,435,693, which is S7,l44,200 less
than the budget estimate, and $59,206,-
593 less than appropriations for the
current fiscal year. Most of the money
-S546, ,005 ,000-iS for the Veterans Ad-
ministration.
The economy section of the bill breaks
away from the budget recommendation
in several important respects, prohibit
ing the restoration of automatic pay
increases for Army, Navy and Marine
Corps asked by the President.
Chairman Woodrum IN his report
states the committee feels that in con-
tinuing general economy legislation for
the fiscal year 1885 there should not be
a total relaxation in the prohibition
against automatic promotion, and that
whatever is done continuing the pro-
hibition should be based upon equal
treatment to all persons in all the auto
matte groups"
The ban upon automatic promotions.
however, Is modified to the extent Of
permitting increases of pay when there
is promotion in rank. This applies
to the civil service as well as to the
military services.
160 Million Saved.
The committee report shows the esti-
mated saving under economy provision,
including the 10 per cent pay cut but
exclusive of pay reductions in the legis-
| lative branch, is approximately $780,
| 900 900.
The new legislation covering salary
reduction continues the current legisla-
| ton. which bases the pay cut ON cost OF
living surveys, changing only the max
imum rate of cut from IS per cent to
10 per cent.
Chairman woodrum explained in his
report that "in the event the cost Of
living indices show for six months
period of the fiscal year 1885 that
lower percentage of compensation re-
duction should be announced by the
| President, the bill contains authority
for the various departments and estab-
lishments to incur deficiency with the
approval of the President and in the
amount he may specify sufficient to the
added pay load necessitated by the drop
in compensation reduction below 10 per
cent The deficiency authorization pro-
vision is closely safeguarded. is method
ical end business like and will cover the
contingency should it arise" Mr.. Wood
rum emphasized.
The report says the per cent salary
restoration based on budget figures is
s63.2l7,499. exclusive of the legislative
branches. A restoration OF the entire
is per cent would require an additional
26,435, ,006 in excess of the budget
estimate, exclusive of the amount re-
quired for the legislative branches.
Cut Is General.
Compensation of Senators, Repre-
sentatives, delegates, resident commits
sioners and that of the officers and
employees of Congress and others under
legislative establishments is placed for
1885 upon the same basis of pay re-
duction as that applicable to officers
dIlu VI IllC NONCAAAAiISAb 6SA
orally. The pay Of Representatives and
Senators becomes $4,000, as against
$500.
The measure carried the smallest re-
quest for ex-service men in many years.
Both Democratic and Republican
leaders agreed that it would cause
stormy sessions when the measure Is
called up tomorrow for first debate.
Republicans plan, en- masse, to work
against the pay cut, and they will have
some support from the Democratic side.
The big fight on the salary question
in the House will come Friday. Chair
man Buchanan Of the committee was
directed today to ask for a special rule
from the Rules Committee, which will
be done this afternoon. He will endeavor
to get rule making the economy provi-
sions in order without amendment. The
House will proceed with consideration
of the independent Offices bill, with un-
limited general debate, until this spe-
cial rule is called up Friday.
Ordinarily there would be one hour
for debate on the rule, but it is an
ticipated the special rule will provide
a specific length of time for debate.
Continued on Page 8. Column j.