Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-09-06
BIG VICTORY FOR
POSTAL CLERKS
Gag Rule Dropped After Fight
Waged by Senator
Reed.

he had the Senate adopt an amend
ment to the postofhce appropriation
bill giving the worker for Uncle Sam
the right to organize for his personal
advantage. While the amendment
refers only to the employees of the
postoffice department, such as mail
clerks, it affects the government m
ployees generally.
The main effect of the amendment
is to remove the gag which had been
put on h federal worker by orders
issued by President Roosevelt and
President Taft. These orders prohib-
tied government clerks from appeal
ing to members of Congress for in
creases in their pay, transfers to bet
ter positions or in any way going over
the heads of the department chiefs
in the endeavor to better, their condi-
tons. Now the civil service worker
may go to Congress for redress OF
grievances without mourning the dam
ger of dismissal or demotion.
Employees Pleased.
The bill as finally passed by the
Senate is satisfactory to the postal
CAAPfoJ COo as VOL oO Oil ~
workers. Under the measure postal
clerks are permitted to organize. They
must not, however, affiliate with any
outside organization and must not
use their organization for the pur-
pose of inaugurating strikes or Lie
in strikes. 1t was at first thought
that this prohibition would prevent
them from affiliating with the Amer
lean Federation of Labor, but Pres
ident Oscar F. Nelson, of the Ma
tional Federation of Postoffice Clerks,
says 1t will not.
1t is pointed out by President Nell
son and other labor officials that the
postofice bill specifically provides
that organizations of government
workers shall not affiliate with labor
organizations tina have the power to
order strikes. As the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor mas nc power to or
der strikes or levy assessments for
that purpose, 1t Is argued, associa-
ions of government employees are
therefore at liberty to affiliate with the
American Federation of Labor.
No Right to Strike.
When the bill vas under discussion
In the Senate Senator Smith, of South
Carolina, proposed giving the right to
strike to the Federal employees, but
this did not meet with the approval
of any senator except himself. 1t was
pointed out during the debate that
the giving of the right to strike to
workers for the government would be
a dangerous piece of legislation. as 1T
most likely would result in the tieing
[up of the government In times of In
dustriaI and labor disturbances.
Under such a law Federal employees
could walk out In sympathy with
strikers in private pursuits, and thus
seriously handicap the work of the
government, If not halt 1t entirely.
Another feature OF such a law, 1t was
shown, would have been the prospect
of soldiers in the United States army
striking in time of war Inc refusing
to go Into battle in the defense of
the country. Consequently, the pro-
posal of the South Carolina senator
resulted only in the relieving of the
members of the Senate os considerable
oratory and the swelling of the con-
tents Of the Congressional Record.
Lay-off Feature.
Another change in the law, as 1t
affects Federal employees, was the
adoption of the Bryan amendment.
This claus provides that instead of
paving for overtime when clerks are
Obliged to work more han the allotted
number of hours, they shall be com
pensated within the next six days fol-
lowing the extra hours worked by a
4, ac,t .-.,aJ 30 tha nItrnhar nf pY-
ira hours.
This amendment is aimed to relieve
the clerk of the strain of extra hours,
and to conserve the energy of the en-
ployee tina he may give better serv-
ices during the hours of his regular
employment.
But it is on the amendment repeal
ing the so-called gag rules affecting
the government clerk that those who
draw their pay from the strong box
of Uncle Sam lay most stress. 1t is
hailed as a great victory for the serv-
ice. and as the accomplishment of a
purpose for which the government
worker has been laboring for many
years.
Gag Rule Dropped.
Under President Roosevelt-and
President Taft followed the lead of his
former friend in this instance. If in
no other-a civil service employee
faced the penalty of dismissal II ne
went to the Congressman from his
district, or any persons outside his
department, in the endeavor to obtain
redress for a grievance he might have
had. He could not make an appea
4 for more money to meet the increas-
ing cost of living unless he placed
himself under liability of losing his
place. Neither could he seek the ale
of anyone whether in public or pri-
vate life, in an effort to obtain g
promotion and he had to smart under
the gag and make no appeal until his
superiors saw fit to recognize his
worth and reward him with a promo
ton.
Now all is changed. The measur
as 1t passed the Senate cuts the gas
from the mouth of the civil servic,
employee and he is at liberty to carr,
his grievance, either real or fancied
wheresoever he will, in the effort t.
obtain redress. And he need not b.
haunted with the executive threat O
dismissal.
May Renew Pension Fight.
The change in the law also leave
the way clear for the government
clerks to renew their fight for old ag
pensions. This struggle,has been car
ried on in a desultory fashion TO
many months, but with the fear of tn
executive gag hanging over them tn