The Washington herald., 1916-12-21

pital staff probably would be unable to
make a living outside of his profession -
he said. Some men of the gospel have
given up their calling for outside
activities and woe to them. The lawyer
who cannot make a living at his own
profession makes a sorry showing out
side. 1t is thus with the government en-
ploye. He is a highly trained. skillful
employe, becoming more and more pro-
fcient with his experience, and to say
that he could not earn as much money
outside as an argument against granting
him an increase is no argument whatso-
ever
DenOunces Opponents.
He characterized men who are contin-
ually picking on the government en-
ployes In Congress as individuals with
souls so small they would rattle around
in the shell of a mustard seed"
rs an increase of cents a day right
and just for the charwomen? II 1t is
| God save the worid,'' said Representa-
| tive Austin. of Tennessee. II believe that
we should hold the scales of justice aloft
and be as fair with the charwomen as
we are with the President Of the United
States. Ten years ago we increased the
salary OF the President. We increased
the salaries OF the Supreme Court jus
tices, we increased the salaries of men,
bers Of Congress- we advanced the sal
aries of Circuit Court judges and other
high officials. and it is my firm belief
that we should have continued right
down the line to the lowest paid employe
for surely he feels the high cost of lIv-
| ing as much as officials of the higher
grade.
IF they will let me write a section OF
ten lines into the tariff bill l will find
the money to pay every farthing that
these increases will cost" he said. 81
would write in a section for the importer
of foreign goods to pay all OF 1t.
COmmends Press Work.
II want to make public acknowledge
ment OF the splendid work OF the press in
that movement" said Representative
Austin. The greatest agency outside OF
your own organization in securing these
increases. small though they are. was
the free and Independent press OF Wash
ington. The press was champion OF the
right. and its sustained assistance was a
great factor in the increases given yes
terday. That the increases will be ma
terially added to in the Senate is my
honest conviction, and I will reserve my
opinion on the proposition Of whether the
United States Senate should be abol-
ished until they have acted upon this
| matter"
Representative Van Dyke, of Mime
sofa, said that such a thing as a pros
porous condition In this country was a
fallacy unless the labortng man and wage
Garner is prosperous. He became con-
i WINGED that the government employe does
not get what he deserves through nine
years Of service as a railway mail clerk
1T taught me also the benefit OF or
Sanitation" he said, "and since the rail-
way mall clerks have organized. they
have gone steadily forward. I believe
the history of your own organization
will be substantially the same because
in the short period Of eight months you
have been able to set at least st. 900, ooc
for the employees of the country"
Attacks Unorganized.
F. G Roberts, Commissioner OF Labor
Of Porto Rico and a member OF the
Typographical Union, Of Washington, SAID
that II he had the power he would write
the law so that none but the organized
employees would get the increase.
There are plenty Of people willing to
take all they can get and let the other
fellow do the work That is exactly the
position Of the men and women outside
OF the Federal Employees Union. They
are willing to profit by what the union
secures but make no effort to stand
with the union He praised the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor and gave nu-
merous examples to show what organ
lzation by wage earners had accomplished
Miss Florence Etheridge, treasurer OF
the Union. read some interesting statistics
showing that the wages paid by States
and cities throughout the country were
greatly In excess of those paid by the
government. She made a strong plea
70 have the women employees Of the gov
eminent join the union in greater num-
bers and predicted that with continued
success next year. the employees will
be able to secure many betterments in
working conditions from Congress.
Sure of Senate Approval.
President H. M. McLarin, of the Fed
eral Employees Union, declared his con-
f1dence in the belief that the Senate
would grant greater increases. He de-
clared that the threatened deficit had de-
TERED many members of Congress from
supporting the measure. A letter was
received from Secretary Tumulty stating
that the President was not making any
speaking engagement and would not be
present
The following resolution was adopted:
Resolved, That the House of Repre-
sentatives is earnestly petitioned to grant
at least this much Of an increase in pay
carried in the various appropriation bills
and to the employees of the District of
Columbia appropriated for in the Dis
trict bill; and be 1t further
Resolved, That the Congress of the
United States Is earnestly petitioned to
make this increase effective Immediately
and not postpone It until next July, as Is
now contemplated by the appropriation
bill as the increase will then be too late
"a %
Resolved, That the Senate of the
United States Is earnestly petitioned to
grant to all the employees of the United
States and of the District Of Columbia
the increases provided in the House OF
Representatives and as much moro as In
their wisdom they see flt, in view Of the
depleted condition Of the Treasury and
also in view Of the enormous amounts of
the appropriations which will be made
by this Congress for purposes not nearly
SO necessary as the sustenance of the
pDnnlOVpS of the TT0ite6 Stofaa o-A 80 81 -