The Washington times., 1934-01-16
SEPARATE VOTE
POSSIBLE IF
SENATE ACTS
DeIetion of Clause From Bill
Would Give House Chance
to Reconsider Repeal
BY DUNCAN FORSYTH


Government ployes were
cheered today by the hope that
the Senate Appropriations Com
mittee would strike out the pay
cut clause in the independent
office bill, thereby giving the
House an opportunity to recon
slider it's action of a few days ago.
The vital vote in the House was
on rule which barred amend
ments to the measure, and this
passed by the narrow margin OF
1877 to 192-a vote SO close that
friends of the Government work
ers were much encouraged, and
came to the belief that if the pay
cut could be made a matter for
an independent vote, it would be
defeated.
Fight On In Senate
It appeared today that there is
strong sentiment in the Senate
Appropriations Committee against
the pay cut, and that the commit.
tee report might recommend
eliminating it. representatives of
the Government employees are now
carrying on their battle for repeal
of the cut in the Senate, since
their immediate hopes for this
session rest there.
Specifically, opinion on Capitol
Hill is that ten members of the
Appropriations Committee will line
up solidly for restoration of pay
and that six others are receptive.
Only II are needed to swing the
committee to favorable vote.
Money Policy Helps
President Roosevelt's monetary
message, which intimates a pay
cut through devaluation of the
dollar, is counted upon TO increase
sentiment in favor of restoration.
It was announced today that
William Green, president Of the
American Federation of Labor,
and E. Claude Babcock, president
o. the American Federation of
Government Employees, will ap-
pear before the committee when
its hearings on the economy meas
ures open tomorrow, prepared to
make vigorous fight against eX-
tending the pay cut.
Victory in the Senate would
pave the way for a direct vote in
the House.
See Rise of Prices
Qualification of the monetary
situation, and the evident implica-
ton that prices will rise consid-
erably during the present six
month period are expected to
have their effect in bringing more
members to support the views Of
the Government employees.
Both organizations of Federal
employees and the American Fed.
Grafton of Labor are trying to con-
vince the Senate that the pay cut
should end at once, in the interest
of national recovery and as mat
ter of justice to working men and
women everywhere. Continuance
of the cut in Government service,
it is contended, will encourage
continuance of wage cuts in effect
in private business.
At any rate, the whole effect Of
the cut, say the adherents of Gov
ernment workers, is deflationary,
and it should be eliminated in
time of relation like the present,
to prevent even greater injustices
than now exist.
Lower Dollar Cited
President Roosevelt's dollar de-
valuation message has stinu-
lated the efforts of those Sen
ate members who favor restora.
ton of Federal pay, and these
Senators are pointing out that
since devaluation means pay
cut anyway, the Government pay
scale should be returned to its
old basis.
If this view prevails, and
skilled Capitol observers are in
clined to believe it will, the Presi-
dent may meet his first reverse
on this question. The Approprt-
ations Committee will meet to-
morrow and 10 Of the % mem
bers say they will vote for full
restoration of the cut. Nearly
half a dozen of the others are
noncommittal. with indications
pointing strongly to the likeli-
hood that three, at least. will go
along with restoration advocates.