Evening star., 1934-02-28

cost Of the various compromise
amendments which the administration
group had offered, the extent to which
the Senate exceeded the compromise
proposals in cost Is narrowed down
considerably.
Borah Springs Surprise.
The Borah amendment to prevent
those whose salaries exceed $4,000
from sharing In the pay restoration
program was sprung Unexpectedly
just before the bill passed yesterday
and after 1t had been thought the pay
section Of the measure was settled.
The Idaho Senator's proposal was
in the form of a limitation, stating
that no appropriation in this or any
other general appropriation act for
the fiscal year 1885 could be used to
pay more than IS per cent Of the sal
ary of any officer, except judges
where the salary or compensation is
in excess Of $4,000.
This was another way Of saying
that the present Is per cent cut would
continue during the next fiscal year
on the higher positions in the Gov
ernment, including members of Con-
gress. heads Of departments and many
bureau chiefs.
Parliamentarians were Of the opin-
ion, however, that even if enacted into
law, the Borah amendment in its
present form probably would not pre-
vent those receiving more than $4,000
from receiving the per cent pay
restoration from February to June
30 although they would lose this
amount again on July /. This inter-
pretaflon is based on the view that
the amendment is restriction only
on funds now being appropriated for
the new fiscal year beginning July !.
Long Objection Fails.
When the amendment was proposed.
Senator Long tried to block it with a
point Of order. but Vice President
Garner ruled it in order.
Senator Hayden, Democrat, Of Ari-
zona. pointed out that only a nominal
saving would result from the Borah
proposal. because such small part
OF the Government payroll is above
the $4,000 level. This view was
shared by Senator Byrnes.
Senator Borah, defending his re-
striction on higher salaries, said:
"We ought to face the country and
we ought to meet the President with
clean hands in this matter of enlarg-
ing expenditures. Let it be known
that If there is difference of opinion,
it IS difference of opinion with ref
erence to the low-salaried employees
and the veterans who received injuries
in the war. We ourselves can afford
to bear our share of carrying the bur-
den which is now resting upon the
Government"
When the roll was called the Borah
amendment carried, As to 80.
Promotions Affected.
In addition to the general salary
provision, restoring S per cent Of the
pay cut as of February /, and the
remaining 10 per cent on July !, the
Senate made several other changes
affecting Government personnel,
which also go back to the House for
concurrence. These are:
Permitting resumptin OF automatic
promotions, except so-called longevity
pay, for the various military services,
and automatic promotions for certain
civilian groups, including postal work.
ers, District policemen, firemen and
school teachers.
Authorizing to limited extent ad-
ministrative promotions in any Gov
ernment department, provided funds
for the purpose have been saved from
other economies, so that additional
appropriations are not required.
An amendment seeking to provide
a 40-hour week for mechanical groups,
whose pay Is fixed by wage boards.
The amendment would adjust the
basic pay of these workers as they
existed in the wage scales OF June,
1892, less only any general percentage
cut that might be applied to all other
employees.
The effort to attach a bonus amend
ment was made by Senator Long just
before a final vote on the bill. 1t was
permissive plan, seeking to give the
President authority to pay the ad-
justed service certificates, but was
beaten, "a to "a.