Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-04
DISMISSAL OF EMPLOYE
ALLEGED INSTRUMENTATION IN
GOVERNMENT PRINTERY.
Dissatisfaction With an Order Re-
quiring Space Work-Miss Sny-
nor Loses Position.

Friction attending the enforcement OF an
order Of Public Printer Stillings for the
placing of several women employees OF the
bindery on space instead Of time work took
definite form yesterday in developments
leading to the dismissal today by the public
printer of Miss Ellen F. Sydnor, designated
as a sewer" on the charge of insubordina-
ton. Specifically Miss Sydnor was charged
with declining to follow the directions of
Acting Foreman Ashton when he assigned
her to piece work, and also with persisting
in an absolute refusal to comply with the
order when the matter was brought to the
attention of Mr.. Stillings.
The protest of Miss Sydnos against the
order of the acting foreman resulted in her
suspension by that official. She then sought
an interview with the public printer, in
which, according to statements made at
the Office, she detailed her complaint and
asserted that she would not under any con-
ditions comply with the new order. Fur
thermore, 1t is asserted. she demanded that
she be reinstated. at the same time an
nouncing that, If denied, she would fight
the matter to finish.
To a Star reporter this morning, concern
ing the case, Mr.. Stillings said Miss Sgd
nor's action left him no alternative but that
of dismissal He said the employe, after
presenting her side Of the case, had an
nounced that she would not await an inves-
tigation of theJmatter along the usual lines,
but had reauired a decision at the time
of the interview, asserting that she would
not resign and stating what she would do
in the event of her removal.
Expresses His Regret.
Mr.. Stillings said that he had been ready
to inquire fully into the case. but that in
view Of the statements of Miss Sydnor he
was compelled to inform her that she was
dismissed. He said he regretted having to
take that action, especially as it appeared
from the record that Miss Sydnor had
served creditably as a trained nurse in the
United States army. He was of the opinion
that her term of service had been in con-
nection with the civil war. He also re-
ferred to the fact that she had been in the
employ of the government printing office
for about thirteen years. Her home town
was given as Pittsfield, Mass.
Mr.. Stillings stated that no matter what
conditions might obtain he could not per-
init any person who absolutely refused to
obey orders to remain longer in the service
of the government printing Office. If such
cases were condoned or overlooked, he said,
the service in the establishment would soon
become demoralized. In that connection
he took occasion to remark that the head Of
the office could not permit political influence
or anything of that character to interfere
with the enforcement of discipline among
the employees.
Dissatisfaction, 1t was stated, developed
among the women employees of the bindery
affected by the order changing the system
of work In vogue as soon as the new re-
Quirement was announced about two weeks
ago. 1t was explained that the foreman
of the bindery and the public printer had
for long time suspected that the time
workers were not doing anything like as
much, as rule, as the employees whose pay
was regulated by the actual amount OF
work performed. Accordingly, 1t was de-
cided to place members Of the former class
of employees on space work by way of de-
termining just how much they were accom-
plishing.
Result of Test.
The first day following the PRONUNCIATION
of the order showed. it was asserted, that
the majority of the employees affected did
not actually earn more than 35 cents for
the eight hours. The second day showed
an improvement, and in the course of a
week the employees were earning, on the
average, about $1.75 or more per day. 1t
was simply case of increased industry In
order to secure anything like the same
money they had been receiving before If
was stated, and confirmed the opinion Of
the officials that such a move was neces-
sary to insure the performance of the
amount Of work for which the government
was paying. The order, 1t was explained,
was not general. but the authority was in
tended to be exercised by the foreman in
his discretion.
Furthermore, 1t was stated that 1t entail
ed no hardship, since, by diligence and
steady application. the space workers could
not only earn as much as the time workers,
but. in many instances. could make consid-
erably more than the employees of the lat
ter class. 1t was added that some of the
space workers earned as much as S. per
day.