The Washington herald., 1916-11-22
A. T. OF |. IvDORSES
PLEA OF U. S. WORKERS
Blanket Increase in Federal Employees
Pay to Be Urged.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

eral Employees Union. which now num-
bers 5000 members. not affiliated with
other labor unions.
They were represented before Congress
for the FIRST time at the hearings on the
Nolan minimum wage bill by II. N. Nc
Laren, president OF the organisation. He
II also the representative OF the union at
the convention Of the American Fedora
ton of Labor at Baltimore.
Afraid to Protest.
A statement by McLaren before the
Nolan committee explained why the
clerks had not protested against existing
conditions. He said:
Previous to this time these clerks have
been absolutely afraid to appear not only
before any committee of Congress, but
afraid even to visit a member of Congress
In behalf OF bettering their condition. The
rules and regulations of the departments
and the various chiefs of bureaus have
been so strict that these employees have
not been free at all They have been
given their jobs, and IL they were seeking
any preference, or even seeking Justice
and their rights. they ofiicial heads would
be cut off,"
Representative Maher-Hov long has
that condition prevailed?
Mr.. McLarin-That condition has pre-
vailed to my certain knowledge since
1908, when I came into the service.
Representative Denison-Do you know of
any specific instances where they were
removed from their positions because
they sought to better their conditions?
Mr.. McLarin-I am not in a position
now Mr.. Denison. to cite any specific
instance.
Representative Van Dke-I can give YOU
a horrible example; l am one myself
That was In 1911. Representative Van
Dyke was formerly in the employ Of the
Postoffice Department.
Insistent Upon Secrecy.
Mr.. McLarin-But that is the attitude
which prevails in the department. As I
say. have been temporarily elected presi-
dent OF this organization. and yesterday
/ was at the office all day and there
were number of people In to see me
woh refused to even give their names to
me, because they were afraid they would
be discharged from ofice: people who
came down there to lay before me the
i'll treatment they were receiving, from
receiving relief; that their chiefs were
driving them to try to establish records
for their oflces. And they were mighty
near in tears to persuade mo OF the i'm
portance Of not revealing their names and
where they were employed.
Representative Van Dyke-Under the
provisions of the postoffice appropriation
bill of 1872 that right Is granted to all
government employees at the present
time; they have a right to appeal and
can appeal to any Representative at the
present time, either alone or in a body.
Mr.. McLarin.-Mr. Van Dyke, It is
true that right is given to them, but
until the last three weeks there was not
one in ten who knew of it. And even to
those who know of 1t 1t is denied to them
in spirit by the chiefs Of their respective
Offices
Many Instances Cited.
Representatives of the clerks organi-
cations acn point to scores OF cases
where faithful and efficient employees
have remained at a fixed salary for more
than twenty years. They have others
who have worked more than fifteen
years without an increase and a greater
number where ten years of continuous
service has not been recognized by an
additional sum- in the pay envelope
f. ]. Newmyer. of the Department of
Agriculture. is now working on a list
that will show officially just how many
government clerks have worked for a
number of years at a fixed salary. They
have had no increase in pay even though
their value to the government has in
creased 100 per cent, according to the
clerks union.
Herbert Brown. of the Bureau of Eff
ftciency, is working on cards received
from more than 10000 government en-
ploTes with view to framing a COM
prehensive and satisfactory contributory
pension plan for government employees
These statistics when completed will
give official information on the COM
pensation and experience of every gov
ernment clerk. They show the designa-
ton Of position. annual earnings, initial
and present rate OF pay, educational
qualifications, marital condition. civic
service status, method by which classi-
fed status was obtained and other valua-
BILE information for the formulation of a
statute to provide government retire
ments.
Within the last SIX months boarding
house keepers have recognized the in
creased cost Of foodstuffs by jumHng the
monthly rate for table board 81 to S.
Rooming houses have raised the price of
lodgings 81 to s. per month and all along
the line the cost of necessities has in
creased, but the government salaries have
remained at a standstill.