Evening star., 1934-03-09
Democrats Split in Bitter
Meeting-Veto Threat
Is Ignored.
BREAK MAY BRING
RESTORATION JULY
Chances of Administration to Ap-
ply Gag on Veterans Benefits
Apparently Doomed.

House Democratic leaders-their
hopes for compromise agreement on
Government pay restoration and in
creased veterans benefits scuttled at
last nights party caucus-went ahead
today with plans to call up the inde-
pendent Offices supply bill in the
House next Tuesday. with a free vote
assured on the nberalized Senate
amendments.
WeN-planned efforts to save the ad-
ministration economy program through
caucus rule ended in failure after
bitter, four-hour fight during which
78 of the Democrats stood adamant
for Senate amendments that added
$3.50 .000, 900 to the bills total.
The caucus was told in strong
words that the President was certain
to veto the bill If the House adopted
the amendments. which would wreck
the s40o000,000 economy act passed
a year ago. But the lines shattered
nevertheless
Such was the temper Of the Demo-
Gratis that doubt was expressed today
by Representative Byrns. majority
leader, that the House in its present
mood" could agree upon veterans
legislation acceptable to the Presi-
dent
Both Byrns and Speaker Rainey.
however, said at their press confer
ences that the House would not pass
a bill over the Presidents veto.
May Scrap Economy.
II the bill fails to pass. then the
economy provisions will have been
cast aside, there would be full res
toration Of the Is per cent pay cut
after July / and no legislation au-
thorizing legislative furlough Of Gov
ernment employees.
The caucus made plain no gag
rule can be adopted and that admin
istration leaders have not sufficient
votes to defeat the Senate amend
ments without help from the Re-
publicans.
If the deciding vote on full resto-
ration of basic salaries rests with the
Republican minority. it now seems
probable one Of the Senate amend
ments will be approved by substan-
tial majority
Minority Leader Smell and other
prominent Republicans pointed out
emphatically that the minority mem
bership has several times voted almost
unanimously for the full Is per cent
restoration, and I'VE see no reason
now to change our attitude-we have
heard no sentiment for such change
on the Republican side of the House"
May Consider Policy.
1t was admitted by Republican
leaders that meeting of their Steer
ing Committee probably would be
called to consider the party's policy
in advance of action in the House
on the SENATE amendments.
Smell said the veterans benefit
amendments turned over by the Sen
ate would probably be worked over"
in the House with the Republicans
showing an open mind for hberaliza-
ton.
Representative Martin of MasSa-
chusettS, one of the Republican stra-
tegistS and a member of the Rules
Committee, Endorsed the opinion ex-
pressed by the minority leader. He
predicted an almost unanimous vote
would be cast by the Republicans for
the full IS per cent restoration. He
thought. however. that there would
be individual differences of opinion
among the Republicans regarding the
provisions for veterans benefits, but
said that even on these amendments
he had heard among his Republican
colleagues no very strong objections
to the provisions sent over by the
Senate.
Administration leaders are eager TO
get the bill before the House as soon
as possible, but that cannot be done
before next week because Byrns has
promised many members that no ac-
ton would be taken this week. Also
Representative Woodrum OF Virginia,
chairman of the subcommittee in
charge of the bill. is out of the city.
Although some parliamentarians
(Copti,Yod oo DoOo Q Column ~