The Washington times., 1916-04-10
Speakers, Who CIamor Long
Time for Recognition, Declare
Organization Undemocratlc.
NOLAN DISCUSSES WAGES
Congressman Urges Passage Of
His Bill for SO Minimum
Pay.

Two speakers, who gained recogni-
fjon only after repeated efforts, charged
that the Grover Cleveland Community
Z Forum was "undemocratic," and one
OF these engaged in a lively exchange
of personalities with q third. during
the time allotted for general debGve
AZ the meeting OF the forum at the
Public Library yesterday afternoon.
Congressman Nolan OF California
made an earnest plea FOR his minimum
wage bill for Government employees
ana state Senator winfield Gaylord, OF
wisconsin: M. r. O'Donoghue, OF
washington; and Miss Florence Ether
Idge, treasurer OF the Federal Employees
! Union, also spoke.
The frst signs OF trouble came tust
hfter Congressman Nolan's address
when 8. r. Blanton sought permission
20 ask Mr.. Nolan a question. He was
told questions were not in order until
all the speakers had concluded.
Mr., Blanton Persistent.
when the set speeches we're conclud-
ed, A. ]. Driscoll. the presiding officer.
threw the meeting open for general
discussion, and several times Mr. Blan-
ton sought recognition. but did not get
It. Finally he seized an opportunity
when no one else had the floor and
started to talk.
Edward ]. Ward. sponsor OF the
community forum movement, inter-
rupted him and began an argument
in favor of the johnson bill throwing
open the schools for the use OF the
forums on Sundays.
Mr. Blanton essayed another time to
ask his question, but Chairman Dris-
coll interrupted him again. and called
for rising vote of thanks to Mr.
Nolan Cor mis- exposition or the mini
mum wage question.
Then David Eccles jumped to his
feet and said:
Il thought this was a forum for
discussion OF all sides of question.
II we can't get such a discussion here
we can go where we can he heard
Chairman Driscoll tried TO halt the
speaker by telling him he was not
talking to the point. -,
"Oh, I'm Discussing the question all
right" Eccles retorted That Is all
we have been trying to do, get a
chance to talk about this question.
by this time Congressman Nolan had
left the hall Mr.. Eccles said he did
not question that some Government
salaries should be raised: out ne
thought the minimum of So was too
high, He said many of the people
who are paying taxes for the salaries
of Government clerks are not getting
that much.
Declared Behind Times.
r.. w. Oyster OF the office of the
District assessor. challenged Mr..
Eccles' poaition, and said:
"why. he is nifty years behind the
times"
Mr.. Eccles said he rose to a question
of personal privilege to explain his
position, which he thought had been
misunderstood. The chairman ruled
he could net speak again until every
! one else had been heard.
EdwSra PstsTs &ssd.pI Of pS tSs neon aRS In
Park Citizens Association. took part in
! the discussion. Mr.. Edwards said he had
wanted to ask Congressman Nolan
Z some questions before he left. He
questioned whether a universal mini
mum wage Of 50 would be equitable.
Aft& two more attempts to get
recoghition, Mr.. Blanton succeeded In
getting the fioor alone Chairman
briscoll said he was ready to entertain
a motion to adjourn but Mr.. Blanton
IT this Is a forum 1t ought to be a
democratic forum. I don't want to ere
ate any disturbance. but I did want to
.sk Consressmen Nolan a question be-
The speaker said that he supposed II
! Secretary Wilson could put in q huge
repair bill for his automobile the Gov
/ ernment could AFFORD to pay living
wages to it's employees.
forum some day." he continued. "and
! present the case OF the farmers of this
; country"
Finally Wins Audience.
~ this time the speaker had the audi
. vVkAN ANx,a - l.,
! stAtsment vigorously. He said that 40
per cent Of the farms in Congressman
; Nolan's own State California; were
! under mortgage.
The meeting was about TO adjourn
2 again when Chairman Dr1scoll was re-
ultnded from the noor that Mr.. Dccles
, had asked permission TO mako per-
nf1ght have three minutes.
Mr. EccIe1 explained he objected only
20 raising the wages OF some employees
90 an ARTIFICIAL standard, especially,
the United states was about 500.
"Mr. pccles said the average wage
IN the United States is about $4O0" said
r. w. Oyster; Now, l happen to re-
. in my union, and when the printers
down al the Government Printing Ofrice
forced their wages TO " a day I did not
hear OF him refusing It on the ground
that the average wage outside the Gov
Eccles replied that Mr.. Oyster should
tell whether the wage for the same
( work outside was more or less than "a
D day.
Wages outside were slightly less, "'
replied MIR. Oyster. And they would
have been far less had 1T not been for
, the activities OF the Government en-
ployes.'
Nolan's Argument.
Congressman Nolan. the first speaker
declared that II any private corporation
''had been found treating its employees
as the Government has done II would
soon have been compelled to mend its
ways or get out of business"
while / knew there were many
cares of low wages In the Government
service" he continued, mo one was
more stunned nor shocked than when.
at the hearings on my bill, learned
. how extensive were these less than
. living wages"
Congressman Nolan said that the ex-
periences of those who had testified at
. the hearings were only a FEW, and that
these cases were not exceptional, but
typical He mentioned a large group
: at Annapolis who got about $500 a year
I and called attention to the poor pay