Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-10
PLEA FOR LLOYD BILL
President of Postal Clerks
Federation Wants Action.
PERMIT TO FORM UNIONS
Progress of the Inquiry by House
Committee Into Civil Service
Conditions.

Oscar F. Nelson, president OF the Ma
tional Federation of Postal Clerks. an
organization of railway mail service en-
ployes which is not approved of by the
Post Office Department, today concluded
his testimony before the House commit
tee on reform in the civil service, which
is holding hearings on the Lloyd bill to
permit government employees to form
Federation of Labor.
Mr.. Nelson urged that the Lloyd bill
receive a favorab report and that ar
amendment be inserted to create a board
to which clerks might appeal when dis
charged without cause or for purely po-
litical reasons.
This executive order preventing gov
eminent clerks: from appealing to Con-
gress for redress of grievances is resent
ed" said Mr.. Nelson. 1T riles tie clerks
to think that they have been deprived by
such an order of their rights even to talk
to their member in Congress"
Fulton r. Gordon of this city, who re-
Gently helped to organize a mass meeting
of government employees. was present at
today's hearing, and will be heard by the
committee tomorrow.
Ignores Anonymous Letters.
Chairman Goodwin told his colleagues on
the committee today that he is receiving
many anonymous letters from employees
in Washington. He said he did not in
tend to pay any attention to such let
tiers. but that any complaint 10 him
signed by the emplOye making the kick
would receive his attention.
This committee said Mr.. Goodwin
after the hearing. .'cannot pay attention
to anonymous complaints. If the letters
from government employees are signed
they Will be regarded az strictly conf
dental by me, when so requested, and
shall be glad to receive them.
The same rule applies to those
clerks who may wish to give informa-
ton to me or to the committee in per-
son. Some Of them have come here in
right for complaint they need not be
uneasy about coming to this Office. as
their visit will he treated with the
same consideration and confidence that
signed communication would be-"
President Nelson spoke of fifteen
Indianapolis in 1909 without any basis
of written charges.
Efficient Men Displaced.
"They dismissed some of the most
efficient men in the Office for political
reasons said Mr.. Nelson. IF the civil
service commission possessed the right
Of review this might not have hap
pened. A superior officer will not TAX
summary action unless he can sustain
his case"
Mr.. Nelson said that what the rail.
way mail clerks want lis the restora
ton Of our constitutional rights to all
our grievances and.a working day OF
not over eight hours, Ave hours on the
road and the other three for study Al
1T IL. some Of the clerks are now work
ed from ten to thirteen hours on g
stretch and then must begin to study
their route"
Letters Placed In Record.
At Mr.. Nelson's request there was in.
serted in the record Of the hearing The
letter written to President Taft by Fultor
r. Gordon, asking that the executive
order referred to be revoked. and the
Presidents reply informing Mr.. Gordon
that the revocation of the order was con
sidered unwise at this time. Mr. Gordon
who will amplify his views tomorrow
told the committee that classified service
employees were not satisfied with the pres
ent system of making promotions. He
expressed the opinion that the loves,
clerical salary paid by the government,
should be 200.