Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-05-26
POSTAL CLERKS FIND
FRIEND N CONGRESS
REPRESENTATIVE MooNTHREAT-
EMS TROUBLE FOR ADMINS.
TRATioN POLICIES.
FoRTY-EIGHT HOURS PER
WEEK HELD SUFFICIENT
Moon Also Declares Government EN-
ployss Have Right to Join Unions
Assures Postal Mon That They Will
Be Accorded Hearing Before Com
rnittes.
Especial correspondence.

Washington, May 26.-Represen1a-
tive Moon, Of Tennessee, chairman OF
the house committee on postoflces'
has declared himself in favor of forty
eight hours per week for work TOT
postal clerks and no more than that
time He holds this is best for the
service and the employees.
Mr.. Moon has gone further than this
and has declared that congress shoulo
prohibit by law and under heavy pen
alties the enforcement Of any rule IN
the postoffice department or in the
postal service, that prohibits a postal
employe or any employee in the depart
ment from appealing to his represen-
tative in congress or senators for re-
dress from wrongs or injuries thar
may be suffered by him at the hands
of petty officials. This rule is now IN
force in the department and is com :
monty known as the gag law Mr.
Moon holds this is not only an in1us-
tice to the employe but degrading and
ens!svins and can serve no legitimate
purpose. He takes the view that II
could only be the means of perpetual
ing petty tyranny by superior onlcers
and of secreting corrupt practices ano
methods.
Assured Of q Hearing.
Mr. Moon expressed his views IN
connection with a request from repre-
sentatives Of postal clerks and en-
ployes to be allowed to be heard IN
their own behalf before the committee
on postoffices and postroads on var
ious matters in which they are con-
cerned Mr.. Moon assured them that
they and all persons interested should
have a hearing at the proper time. he
said he did not desire to commit him
self on some Of the matters before the
committee in advance but there were
several on which after investigation he
had reached a conclusion and on these
he did not need any further hearings.
It was at this point that he told the
representatives of the employees what
his views were on hours OF service,
the "gag law" and other matters.
On the question of the gag law" MI.
Moon said the legislative branch OF
the government had the right to know
about the conduct Of the executive de-
partments not only for the purpose OF
proper legislation but to prevent spec
ulation and corruption which such
rules as this fostered and encouraged.
He said the legislative branch had the
right to know from any employe who
desired to give the facts.
Not Opposed to Unions.
Representative Noon talked to the
representatives of the postal clerks
and employees on the subject OF joining
unions. He said 1t would not be de-
structive of discipline to permit the
employees to join unions or other law
full associations for the purpose OF
promoting their welfare. This. he said.
was a common right that belonged to
all men and could not be abridged
without the destruction Of personal
liberty. He thought the government
employees should have the same rights
as other citizens and that 1t was
mistake to attempt any such discipline
as would destroy their rights. He held
congress should protect employees OF
tho government from arbitrary con-
duct on the part Of their superiors in
office. Mr.. Moon declared the rules
and regulations in the departments by
which the employees are deprived OF
their personal rights are not authoriz-
ed by any existing law nor by just
Implication Of law but are purely a
usurpation Of authority.