The Washington times., 1914-05-18

A. Kram, Auditor for the Postof-
office Department, today are squarely
before the Treasury Department as
the result of an inquiry instigated
by c. s. Hamlin, Assistant Secretary
of the Treasury, into the case Of
Miss Nellie NJ. Corrigan, now inde-
finitely suspended.
Miss Corrigan. an employe of the
Auditors office since 1904, and a
well-known choir singer in Wash
ington churches. charges Mr.. Kram
with discrimination against her in
the matter of sick leave, with hold
ing I'D pay about which there was
no question. and for having her
suspended indefinitely on the sole
ground that she took a days leave
for moving after efforts to have her
application for such leave acted
upon by Mr.. Kram.
In the letter suspending Miss Cor
. rigan this, incident, and a dispute
eight years ago with another clerk
regarding the opening Of a transom.
are the only specific allegations
made against her to prove that she
has been "persistently and perni-
ciously active in attempting to cause
dissension.'
Used All Sick Leave.
Mr.. Kram asserts that Miss Cor
rigan was refused pay for five days
absence on account of illness be-
cause she had previously used all
her sick leave, that her pay was
held UP according to a rule OBJ
served throughout the Treasury De-
partment in cases where protests
are pending. and that her absenting
herself without permission consn-
tCteo a breach of discipline which
could not be overlooked.
Clerks in the Auditors office also
are aroused over an order. dated
Nav T. forbidding clerks and en-
pIoyes to visit each other or TO re-
Ceive visits. except on ofhcial busi-
nees, and then only with the con-
currence of their official superiors,
any communication between clerks
of various departments either before
or after working hours, or during INT
luncheon period.
This order, they assert, is another
specimen of the alleged autocratic
methods used by the Auditor. and Is
a virtual attempt to interfere with
the inherent rights CT citizens.
Resistance of Rule.
Mir. Kram asserts this order was
merely a reissuance of a Treasury
Department rule which prohibits en-
ployes from visiting each other or re-
ceiving visits. except on ofncial
visits, and then only by permission OF
their superior officers.
The enforcement of this rule Is
man.festly a benett to the service
anS a necessary condition Tor good
work and the proper conauct OF ous'
ness in any accounting department.
lfr. Kram said.
Its observance is particularly es-
sentiai by the force engaged IN
auditing accounts by the eiectriGai
tabulation method. owing TO the
movement of the work in the process
OF audit. ,,, o,sr-
atives is verified by employees on an
other division. 1t is the duty OF the
latter to report all errors found IN
the work. These errors have Value
in proportion as the number may pc
great or small, in forming the pasls
not only for a possible deouctioh
from the pay Of the operative re-
snonsible for them, but also in estao~
fishing an efficiency rating, and TO
the end that no injustice, or appear
anC. of II, may be done it is neces-
sary that there shall be no CONFER
epces. between these groups Oh fh-
ployes during attendance hours; OF
opportunity during the period whicn
would permit. or give occasion Lol
complaint, that corrections had peeh
surreptitiously made.
Miss Corrigan reiterated the COM
nIaints against the alleged sweat
shop" methods employed in 'hc op-
GRAFTON of the key punching ma
chimes.
Many Get More Pay.
"It is true that many employees
are getting more pay than former+y
under the new piece-work system,
hut that does not affect the physical
tax of these key punching machines.
Six or seven persons out CT ten IN
INV room are earning more than
thay formerly did on a salary basis.
but they are paying out that IN
doctors bills and impairing their tu-
ture efficiency. In another room !
know several women earning tne
largest Compensations under the
10 ask for transfers.
Il was forced to take fH" days
off because of a sore arm from op-
Grating a machine. Then my pay
for that period was refused. despite
the fact that other girls. whose
names / have given to Mr.. Ham
Inns office. were out for periods eN-
ceed!nS their leave and were paid for
their time.
Mr.. kram has an ingenious way
of figuring that we are allowed one
error In every 200 cards. But 1t
should be remembered that there are
a dozen or so punches on each of
these cards, and one OF these makes
the entire card wrcng. If Eirl
makes nine errors in 400 cards, We
have figured. she gives the govern
ment 1871 perfect cards for nothing,
because Of the amount she is taxed
for tine imperfect cards.
Suspension Followed Absence.
My pay for a period in which no
question of leave was involved was
held up by Mr.. I<ram. My suspen-
sion folio Hed my absence from the
department for a day that had to