Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-06-10
House EnIarges
Fund for Clerks
OF Members
$4,000 Increase Voted
So, zoo, 900 to Run
Congress Approved
By Chris Mothisen

49, &AS6S( cNOA SA4CA 4tz5 oOaA co
terday and decided its members
should have an additional $4,000
In clerk hire funds.
On q voice vote it agreed to
minor Senate amendments and
completed congressional action on
a bill authorizing the increase.
Presidential approval is not re-
quired.
There was as much talk about
the matter, however, as there had
been earlier In the day on the
So. 200.00 appropriation bill to
run Congress and associated
agencies during the fiscal year be-
ginning July I. This measure also
was approved on voice vote and
sent to the Senate.
The House spent most of the
day. in fact, discussing Capitol Hill
housekeeping money. There were
some oblique chidings of the SEN
ate. 1t was suggested the blame
for talk Of congressional extrava-
gance in providing for members
lay with the Senate. although the
House was forced to share it.
Hoffman Leads Economy Block.
The "economy-begins-at-home"
school Of thought on the clerk
hire proposal was led by Repre-
sentative Hoffman, Republican, of
Michigan. Last week he and Rep
resentative Church, Republican,
OF Illinois blocked final approval
OF the measure, sent from the
Senate with changes. Previously
1t had been passed by the House
under unanimous consent pro-
cedure.
The bill was defended yesterday
by Chairman Mary T. Norton of
the House Administration Com
mittee.
IF a member doesn't need an
additional clerk, he certainly
doesn't have to appoint one" she
emphasized.
Representative Brown. Repub-
lican. of Ohio pointed out many
members had to work their office
stats long hours to handle their
constituents mail.
1.-THE American people ought to
realize and appreciate the kind
OF people that are representing
them and the hard work of the
employees" he commented.
Representative Shafer, RepubS
lican. Of Michigan suggested the
amount involved was mot very
much more than they appropriate
for mineral water over in the
Senate"
Specifically, the bill would give
each House member approximately
$4,000 more in salary for Office
help, which could be paid to one
person or divided among several.
In addition, each member would
get a $500 annual allowance for
official kilograms and long-dis-
lance telephone calls. At present
official kilograms are reimbursable
from House contingent funds
without limit.
Mrs. Norton said, however, that
there had been cases Of a men,
ber's sending as much as $1,000
worth of kilograms in a single
month.
Time to Ask Questions.
The legislative branch appropri-
alton bill, as approved, included
all budget items for the Senate,
except the $10.000.000 to begin
construction of O new Senate
Office Building. This item had
been stricken by the House Appro-
priations Committee.
But Representative Keefe, Re-
publican, of Wisconsin made
plain he didn't think the commit
tee had gone far enough in exam
ing the Senate items. The figures
concealed many of the prerequi-
sites for the Senate which had
brought criticism Of the entire
Congress, although House mem
bers didn't get the extras" Mr..
Keefe declared.
Noting that interchamber cour-
tesy additionally had led to
prompt approval of Senate items
by the House, Representative
Keefe said:
Il. for one. think it's about
time that we began to ask
questions and laid our cards on
the table"
Although he didn't, MIR. Keefe
said he was considering seriously
introducing an amendment to
strike out all Senate items and
then let the Senate write back
in "the items that it feels are
necessary to the housekeeping
of the Senate"
This courtesy idea was fine. Mr..
Keefe said-so long as each cham
Der took responsibility for its own
costs.
There was a sly colloquy between
Representatives Rees of Kansas
and Stefan of Nebraska. Republic
cans. Mr.. Rees asked If any
funds for "free Shoeshines and
haircuts for members of Congress
had been included in the bill.
mot for members Of the House, "
Mr.. Stefan replied.
Mr.. Rees also wanted to know
about refrigerators for offices,
mineral water and increased
amounts to pay administrative
assistants.
Gives Same Reply.
To each. Mr.. Stefan gave the
same reply. with emphasis on
House"
The House refused to provide
any money for the Joint Senate
House Watchdog" committee on
the foreign aid program. The APP
preparations Committee had de-
MED the $4,000 budget request
for committee expenses. The
House turned down on o standing
vote Of lit to 43 the motion of
REPRESENTATIVE V0rvS Ranuhli-