The Washington herald., 1916-12-05
Federal Budget Ignores
Needs Of Humble Workers
CONTINUED TRon PAGE ONE.

"The government employees are on q
fixed salary and there Is q correspondents
ly higher duty on the part Of the repre-
sentatives elected by the people to bet
ter their condition.
''They are prevented from striking by
strong force OF public opinion. which
they respect. Under that disadvantage,
they must depend upon their elected rep
resentatives to give them justice.
I'm my opinion the high cost Of living
has come to stay. It Is harder to make
a living because. In everyday language,
the cost is about the same as the ordi-
nary mans salary.
"Of course I support the movement for
higher salaries for government employees
and everybody who has given economic
conditions any thought cannot get away
from the soundness Of the argument"
Can't Disrupt Service.
As confirming Representative London's
argument, that the condition of govern
ment workers cannot be bettered by ef-
fecting an organization that would bring
about a strike. is the following section
from the application blank Of the Fed
eral Employees Union, which now num-
bers 1000 members in the District of
Columbia
That such organization has complete
autonomy-self-g government; that no one
has the power to order or direct the or
ganization to do anything whatsoever,
and that the Constitution specifically pro-
vides that no Federal statute shall be
violated; that under no conditions shall
the business Of the United States be in
terfered with and that under no circum-
stances shall this union engage in or
support strikes against the United
States"
Union officials last night declared that
this was the best answer that could be
given to those who oppose organizations
of clerks and other government employees.
Representative Dallinger, of Cambridge.
Mass, came out squarely for increase
of salaries and favors the Nolan bill as
the one best designed to relieve the most
needy workers.
TT is absolutely absurd to think that
men can live and support families on
$2.14 a day. which is what some of them
are paid in my district" he said. II find
that It Is no easy task for me to keep
my head above water on a Congressional
salary, and I realize what those who are
getting mere pittance must find the
path extremely rocky. favor of course,
as the immediate legislation. the Nolan
bill or some bill that brings relief to
the most needy Federal employees"
Large Employer Favorable.
Representative fnelan, OF MaSSa-
chusetts, large employer of labor also
declared for higher wages
1T Is apparent to anybody that men
who are getting 500 and $500 a year can
not bring up families on that sum-
have had number of personal cases
called to my observation that convince me
something should be done. 1 dislike to
go on record as favoring any particular
legislation before 1t Is debated, but you
can put me on record as in favor Of leg
islation to improve the condition Of these
underpaid workers"
Edward L. Dent. secretary Of the Dis
trict branch Of the Federal Employees
Union, last night addressed the following
letter to the thirty-seven civic associa-
tions Of the District Of Columbia:
'Our object is to better conditions In
general: First, through increase in salar-
les. which have remained stationary since
the organic act Of 1873; and so much has
been already said in regard to the high
cost Of living, that 1t seems unnecessary
to 60 into details. Second, that the
workmens compensation act be applied
to the District government employees as
the bill which was passed at the last ses-
sion OF Congress did not include the Dis
trict government, and the records show
that several States have compensation
acts on their statute books. Third, that
pay be granted per diem employees for
all national holidays Fourth, that per
diem employees who are regularly en-
ployed over one year be granted fifteen
cation Of the working force"
The Conduit Road Citizens Association,
at its meeting last night, passed resolu-
tions urging Congress to require the i'm
provement In working conditions sug-
gested.