Evening star., 1944-03-04
u s Employees
GarnisIlee Bill
Passes House
Shurp Attacks
By Opposition
Beaten Down
BY DON S, WARREN.

ny OON .. WAnhEN.
Overriding all opposition arpu-
ments, which included sharp attacks
on loan sharks; "easy payment" in
stallment credit plans and threats
OF imitation" the House late yester-
day passed and sent to the Senate
the bill OF Representative Kefauyer
Democrat, of Tennessee, to permit
garntshment of the salaries of all
Government workers for non-pay-
ment of bills.
The measure, reported favorably
by the House Judiciary Committee
February l, and adopted by the
House yesterday after more than
Tour hours sharp debate, by a vote
OF l58 to ia, would permit attach
ment OF salaries of nearly 5000. .OOO
Government workers, here and In
the held. This includes some $4,000
District government workers.
Included in this list, by specific
pronouncement by the House would
oe all members of Congress and the
judiciary and all other elected and
appointed civil officers of the United
states. its instrumentalities and
agencies-excluding only those in
the armed services.
Bill is Made Clear.
Mr.. kefauver had explained that
the measure would apply to mem
berS OF Congress and their secre-
tarlal STATS, among others, but when
representative Cole, Republican, of
Missouri said there should be no
doubt about the scope of the bill
those in charge of the measure
adopted the specific mention of Con-
gress and the judiciary. This latter
point, brought up constitutional
questions as to whether the inclusion
OF the judiciary would involve a
move concerning reduction of the
salaries OF high court judges. This
Thought, however, was pushed aside
One OF the persuasive arguments
was that If a Government worker
was able to get and keep a Govern
ment job he should be able to figure
out his personal financial problems
as weH as any one in private employ
ment. Persons in private employ-
ment already are subject to gar
nishment proceedings.
MIR. Kefauver came strongly tn
the defense of the measure, insist
Ing that objections raised were
imaginary rather than real" He
asserted the American business sys-
tenn was based on extension of credit
and that unless some means of COL
ectlng debts was available credit
could not be available.
State Laws Cited.
Mr.. Kefauver reported that all but
three States have garnishment laws
in recognition of the credit princi-
pie in American business" and that
80 States have laws providing for
garn1shment of State and local gov
ernment employees salaries. s.
quoting from letter from an
-omcial Of the RFC-whose employees
have been subject to garnishment
proceedings since 194O-Mr. Kefau-
yer said the record showed there
mad been a decrease in writs served
on employees there since 1910. He
argued further that the experience
OF the RFC also showed no increase
IN personnel. was required to take
care of garnishment proceedings
and that, rather, the agency had
had less time devoted to complaints
about non-payment of bills than be-
fore.
He stressed that under his bill a.
creditor could not garnishee the
wages of Government employe if
ne charged rate of interest of more
than 6 per cent.
Opposition Offered.
Opposition arguments were offered
by a long list of House members.
,Paraphrasing the Roosevelt veto
message on the tax bill, Representa-
tive OBrien, Democrat, of Michi-
gan, said the garnishment bill "is a
measure for the relief of loan sharks
and ambulance chasers."
: Representative Michener, Repub-
lican, of Michigan, said, I'VE have
gotten along for $50 years without
such law; why should we have to
have it now?"
Representative Rankin, Democrat,
OF Mississippi asserted a business
extending credit should find out who
is getting the credit and should not
have to use the Federal Government
as a collection agency"
Representative Randolph, Demo-
crat, of West Virginia, chairman of
the House District Committee and
ranking majority member of the
Civil Service Committee, said he
feared the bill would set precedent
that perhaps would lead to attach