Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-11
PLANS INQUIRY INTO
WORK OF WOMEN
Representative Jeannette Ran.
kin Seeks to Enlist Aid of
House Committee.
WANTS A LAW AS TO HOURS

general investigation, with the idea
of enacting federal law to regulate
the hours of women in government
workshops and offices, will, in all prob
ability, be started by Representative
Jeanette Rankin.
Not entirely contented with the outcome
OF the investigation Of the bureau of en-
craving and printing. Miss Rankin said
today she would enlist the aid OF the
House committee on labor and endeavor
to start subcommittee OF labor experts
to work on the problems connected with
the hours of work by women in the gov
ernment printing office, the Post Once
Department. St. Elizabeth Hospital, bu-
reau of engraving and printing, and every
o1her government institution where women
are employed.
The entire labor problem. as far an
women are concerned, will thus be attack
ed at one time, rather than taking many
bites at 1t, would be the case IL offico
by Office should be investigated separately
Postal Employees Present Grievance.
Coincident with Representative RAN
kin's work on this matter postal EN-.
ployes brought to her attention today
their overtime grievance. which has
CONGRESSIONAL
cussion for several months past. Thomas
F. Flaherty, secretary of the National
Federation of Postal Employees laid be-
fore the Montana mem ber affidavits and
letters to prove his contention that the
long overtime forced on post office EN-.
ployes indirectly affects the wives of
these clerks. He quoted the statement
OF Mrs. Frank Halas. wife Of Chicago
expressed regret that there is no wom-
an member of the House committee on
post offices and post roads ''to better
understand the tragedies Of the home
life OF the underpaid. overworked postal
employees"
Members of the committee on labor,
however. pointed out today that there
is little likelihood of such a sweeping
investigation at this session of Con-
gress. The reason is simply that mem.
bers of Congress are taking advantage
of the recesses which are occurring
frequently and are resting in various
ways. Some are at home and others
are at resorts. Also the committee on
labor has adopted policy in line with
the democratic caucus idea, not to un.
dertake any work that will clutter up
the war program. However. an inves-
tigation by subcommittee would be
entirely in order and it IL toward that
end Miss Rankin will work.
Subcommittee Personnel Suggested.
Friends Of Miss Rankin have suE.
| gested to her that a subcommittee on
| which Chairman Maher of the labor
| committee. Representative Van Dyke Of
Minnesota. Representative Heating of
Colorado. Representative Browne of
Wisconsin and Representative Nolan of
California would be able to produce
excellent testimony. This is a quintet
of labor experts which has made an
envious name for itself in the past two
Congresses for hard work and inter.
esting results.
Miss Rankin would not say anything
for publication on the subject OF the
published accounts Of the mass meeting
at the bureau of engraving and print
ing last night, where It was reported
that 900 employees protested against
any order cutting out overtime
She said she had conflicting reports
on the meeting and would not ex.
press herself at this time. Women at
the bureau. who called on Miss Rankin
today. said to newspaper men that
there were only 800 present at the
mass meeting, and that Miss Rankin's
attitude was approved by majority of
women working there.