The Washington times., 1914-05-20

By CONGRESSMAN JAMES
I had Intended to avoid entering
into any further publicity concern
ing the office Of Auditor Kram. but
notice again reference Is made to
my statement that operators on the
punching machines in his office are
under treatment and it is said that
Mr.. Kram denied that the percent
age of employees In that class Of
work who are suffering from the
work was greater than In the other
branches of the Government service.
Such a statement involves such a
severe criticism on the complaints
that have been made by myself and
other members of Congress that I
feel it my duty to call attention to
the facts. IL the percentage is no
greater than in other departments.
then all of our accusations are not
only unjust to Mr.. Kram. but plain
violations of our duty as members
of CONGRESS to tie Government serv-
ice.
Then the Civic Welfare League
and Mrs. ArchibaI Hopkins are
wrong in their charges and all the
employees that have been complain
ing are wrong.
Reply Under Fire.
In the statement made by Auditor
kram in last Fridays Times he
says:
1T was recognized at the time the
electrical tabulstion system was in
stalled that there were u number OF
employees in the office not adapted
or not qualified to perform the work
under the new system"
There is just enough truth in tha:
state ement to make t false. No one
has ever claimed that anybody en1-
ployed on the electrical tabuiating
machines Is not qualified or that
these machines are injurious The
electrical machines afford bonanza
jobs comparatively speaking. Some
of them tabulate. others assort- :
The operators of these machines
are, as a rule, very well pleased.
Most of them are men-a very large
proportion colored men,
The machines complained OF have
no more connection with electricity
than the North Pole has with the
equator. This controversy arises
over the card punching machines
and they are not electrified. 1t Is
vrcpg for Auditor Kram to talk
about electricity when discussing
these machines.
Tie auditor says a number of en-
plcyes are not adapted to these
mao hines and adds:
There are persons who are not
adapted to the work OF typewriting,
OIL. typewriting would not be con-
denied for that reason. The oper-
stion of a key-punching machine Is
similar to the operation of a type
writing machine. and experience has
shown that there ara a few en-
p.Oyes not adapted by temperament
or training to the operation Of this
ecvice. They are a small minority,
ami their dissatisfaction or ineffi-
Cheney in this respect should not be
seized upon as an opportunity to
condemn a system which has demon-
strated its superiority over the
method of audit formerly in use"
Many Are Affected, Claim.
Auditor Kram has used a type
writer. and he should realize the
comparison Is not justified. He told
me himself that men are not quail
fed for these punching machines.
Not a man is employed. He said he
himself could not operate them.
Are the men in his office a small
II incrity?" No, they are a large
n az rity. From a numerical stand
y, int they are not small, but / shall
certainly question the moral and
CEivalrous stature nf the men clerks
OF that office il they do not conre
To the front and tell the truth about
this reign of terror that this eff
C.ency obsessed auditor has inS.i-
tUIeo
All the men and very many wom-
Ell are disqualified for these piece
rate punching machines. He de-
mands young women. They are
mostly District women and girls who
have no Congressman or Senators to
look after their interests Those who
are in line for promotion belong
elsewhere, for piece-rate workers
have no promotion ahead.
The operation OF a typewriter and
one Of these punching machines are
no more subject to comparison than
joy-riding and sewer-digging. 1t Is
an outrage for an intelligent man to
attempt such a comparison. Why
are men disqualified? Simply be-
cause men are accustomed to voting
and won't stand subsection and
abuse. Put ten men in one of those
rooms with ten of those machines
to be operated piece-rate and sub
ject to error slips, and in a week
they would all quit or fight; IL they
didn't they would go crazy.
Whq does Mrs. Archibald Hop
kins complain to the Health Bureau?
Why do the operators so to the doc
tors? Why does Auditor Kram slam
the door shut in the face of the
Government Health Bureau? The
women and girls are eager to make
something for their support. and he
holds out better wages by piece
rate, and by series of bulletins
and classifications the fastest ones
make their mark while they last.
When they come to themselves and
he begins to suspect that they will
tell facts about his system he has
them dismissed. as he did Miss Nellie
NJ. Corrigan the other day because
she closed 4 transom that some one
else had opened eight years ago.
Eram's figures are misleading
When he talks about averages he
does not consider the key punchers
alone, but includes a lot of other
It'll