The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-05-06

! the Department Is Opposed to Pro-
posed Organization.
! Washington. May 6.-Subjected to a
| rapid ,crosshre of questions Second
Assistant Postmaster General Joseph
Stewart appeared before the house
committee on reform in the civil serv
ice to explain why the postofice de-
partment refused to permit its en-
| ployes to organize a union and Mr..
/ Stewart frankly admitted that the de-
partment would approve of no organ
ization in which the heads of the de-
partment were not permitted to be
members.
| Mr.. Stewart took issue with mem
bers of the committee who suggested
that such a program tended to blu.
reaucracy.
Secretary Frank Morrison of the
American Federation of Labor, made
a statement before the committee in
which he denied that the proposed
Union of railway mail clerks could re-
| suit in a general strike, called by the
Federation of Labor
The famous executive order issued
in 1902 by President Roosevelt and
later approved by President Taft, for
bidding government employees to petit
ton congress for an increase in pay
| or redress of grievances. was read
| into the record by Mr. Stewart, who
also produced, at the request of the
committee, the subsequent order is
sued by the postotice department de-
Dying railway mail clerks the right
| to organize.
Stewart Parties Question.
| DO you deny the right of civil serv-
ice employees to striker" Mr. Stewart
was asked.
| The second assistant postmaster
general parried the question by ask
| ing Mr.. Wilson if the oath taken by
| government employees, in which they
agree to serve the government, is not
t. be regarded above everything else
Asked by Chairman Goodwin as to
! the reported dismissals or demotions
| of employees because of the contro-
versy over the right to organize Mr.
! Stewart declared that there could be
no question of the right of the depart
ment head to dismiss or denote it's
service employees. dismissed en-
ploye, he added, was notified of the
| charges against him; denoted en-
ploye was given no reason.
| How about the dismissal of one of
your main superintendent at Cincin-
nati?" inquired Representative Finley
"Was he furnished with notice and a
copy of the charges?"
| Il believe not admitted the second
assistant postmaster general
Why Union Is Barred.
What is your objection to clerks
| organizing a union?" asked Represen-
tAtive Gillett.
1T is the character Of the organiza-
ton proposed to which we object" re-
piled Mr.. Stewart "A labor union
that will not admit Off GERS and super
visors of the department. that holds
its meetings behind closed doors, that
has secret password and that does
not permit the heads of departments
to take part in its deliberations, will
always be disapproved by our depart
ment"
Representative Wilson of Pennsyl-
vanis asked if the linotypers and other
employees of the government printing
office are not affiliated with unions
Mr.. Stewart admitted that they were,
but he said an affiliation of this char
acter was not SO inimical to govern
ment interests as one comprised en-
tirely of a whole branch of the service,
such as the postal clerks.
| eve have organizations among the
employees of the postoffice department,
several of them" explained Mr.. Stew
art, but in these organizations super
visory officers have part. They do
not want to permit these officials in
the union now proposed. An organlza-
ton Of the character proposed will be
. peril to the government"