A BILL MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT 80.2.4/17/17 AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATION BILL. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, The committee met at 10.30 o'clock a. m., Hon. Asbury F. Lever (chairman) presiding. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY. The CHAIRMAN. The committee this morning will begin its consideration of the estimates for the appropriation bill. Col. Caffey is here and I believe we are to hear from him first. STATEMENT OF MR. FRANCIS G. CAFFEY, SOLICITOR, U. s. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Mr. CAFFEY. Gentlemen, there are carried in the estimates 28 law clerks, the same number as on the present statutory roll. We ask no increase in that number. As I should like to explain to you a little later, the term "law clerk" is very misleading as a term descriptive of the official who holds that position. Mr. WILSON. This is the office of the Secretary? Mr. CAFFEY. Yes, sir, the office of the solicitor is a subdivision of the office of the Secretary. We are asking in this estimate for an increase, affecting the salaries of law clerks, totaling $3,950. Last year's appropriation, on the statutory roll for law clerks, was $61,400; the estimates this year are for $65,350. If the estimates be approved by Congress, that would effect 17 increases, 11 of which would be $250 a year each, and 6 of which would be $200 each a year. Mr. WILSON. That is the increase they would get? Mr. CAFFEY. Those are the increases. Mr. WILSON. $200 and $250? Mr. CAFFEY. Yes, sir. Eleven of the law clerks would get a $250 increase each, if they are retained in their present positions until the end of the present fiscal year, when the new appropriation act would go into effect, and six of them $200 each a year. None would get an increase of more than $250. That, on its face, may seem somewhat radical; but there are two main reasons for it which I would urge-one as a measure of justice to the individuals, the other as a measure to retain an efficient force. Each one of these men affected well deserves such an increase. I have carefully gone over the records of all of them. Of course, having been in the office now for three years and a half, I know each one of the men very well. I have carefully investigated their records and have all of the details here as to each of the men if you gentlemen wish to go into them. As a measure of justice, I urge two reasons. the law clerks in the Department of Agriculture In the first place, are paid at a con |