Evening star., 1937-07-09
HOUSE STR|KESOUT
MARRIAGE CLAUSE
OF ECONOMY ACT
Section 213 Repeal Voted
2O3 to 129-Amendment
Attempts Fail.
COCHRAN LEADS FIGHT
TO RETAIN PROVISIONS
Offers Unsuccessful Substitute to
Extend Former Regulations
to New Deal Agencies.

After tense debate. during which
stories of hardshlps and Injustice we're
told, the House late yesterday repealed
section 2l3 of the economy act of
1882, commonly known as "the mar
ried persons clause" The roll-call
vote was 203 to 129
Earlier, three attempts at amend
ment had failed and a motion to re-
commit with amendment had been re-
jected, 173 to 81.
Inc Dill as paSsed-the original
measure sponsored by Representative
Celler, Democrat, of New York pro-
Vldes that no person shall be dis
crimlnated against in any case because
OF his or her martial status in e3-
animation, appointment. reappoint-
ment, reinstatement, re-emplovment,
promotion, transfer, retransfer, demo-
ton. removal or retirement"
The House Civil Service Committee
had reported the bill with committee
amendment that no original appoint
ment may hereafter be approved in anv
case where the combined salaries of
the members of family after such
appointment would equal or exceed
$4,000" The question was brought
before the House under a special rule.
Section 213 Defended.
Chairman Cochran of the Expendi-
ture Committee, author of section 2l3.
led the fight against the proposal to
abolish or amend it. He offered a
substitute for the committee amend
ment which would leave section 2l3
operative and extended so as to in
clude all other activities and agencies
of the Federal and District govern
ments, including the New Deal emer-
gency agencies not included in the
classified Civil Service.
Representative Boileau, Progressive.
of Wisconsin, offered an amendment
which would wipe out the Civil Service
Committee amendment. except the one
simple statement, Section 2l3 of the
act of June 80, 1882, is hereby re-
pealed.' This proposal was defeated,
81 to 33.
The Cochran substitute was accepted
in the Committee of the Whole by a
teller vote of 10 to l06, then by a roll
call vote of 1913 to lis. but was rejected
on subsequent roll call vote of 2O3 to
1873 when the test was made in the
House itself.
Chairman Palmisano Of the House
District Committee surprised many IN
the galleries by voting for the Cochran
amendment to make Section 2l3 ap-
plicable to District Government en-
ployes, while former Chairman Norton
voted against it. While this proposal
was under consideration, Chairman
Ramspeck of the Civil Service Com
mittee asked Cochran If it would ap-
ply to employees of the legislative
establishment and he replied that he
hoped it would be so construed.
Recommittal Rejected.
After the Cochran substitute had
been defeated Representative McFar-
lane of Texas offered a motion to re-
commit with an amendment limiting
the joint salaries of members of fam
lily in Government service to s3,600.
This was summarily rejected.
The vote then was taken to adopt
the original Celler bill.
1t is expected an Identical bill will
be promptly passed by the Senate as
the Civil Service Committee has such
measure pending.
During the debate in the House. the
question was asked repeatedly why
low-salaried married persons in the
Government service should be dis
eliminated against while nepotism
prevailed in the legislative branch.
Representatives Rogers, Republican,
of Massachusetts, and Norton insisted
that there are innumerable cases of
husbands and wives on the pay roll
in the higher-s salary brackets who were
not affected by the section. Chair
man Ramspeck confirmed this state
ment. Other speakers charged there
had been rank discrimination" under
the clause.
Fails as Economy Measure.
It was emphasized by many that it
was part of an economy" bill which
produced no economy, and that while
1885 persons we're affected it had not
reduced single position. 1t did re-
suit, however. in throwing many de-
pendents of discharged persons on re-
lief rolls. it was pointed out.
Boileau said young men and women
must not be told that because their
father may have a job with the Gov
ernment they are forever prohibited
from aspiring to serve.
The section has had the effect of
causing married persons to 60 into the
divorce court and of driving children
from their homes, he said.
Rampseck emphasized that OF all
those affected, scarcely any received
salaries of $4,000 and most of them
received less than s1,500 1t was
pointed out by Representative Millard,
Republican. of New York that this is
the only bill before Congress on which
women's organizations are all in
agreement.
Representative Bigelow. Democrat,
of Ohio charged that it was IAN un-
warranted interference with marriage
relations and rank discrimination
against women" He argued that it
fixed certain maximum for family
support"
Ramspeck charged that it was con-
trary to public policy to say to boys
and girls ambitious to 60 into the
Government service that they must
not marry. Representative Cole.
Democrat. Of Maryland asked If it
did not place a premium on legiti-
mate marriage"
Representative Hook, Democrat, OF
Michigan insisted that a similar rule
should be applied to members Of Con-
gress.