The Washington times., 1917-12-17

eating conditions among the en-
ployes. testified that he found few il
any families who could afford eggs
more than once a week, and then, he
said. the working member OF the
household had one egg to himself,
and the rest OF the family had only
a portion OF an egg each. Meat, he
said, likewise was had only once
week, and then only one Of the poorer
cuts. He said the average Govern
ment empIoye was FIAT broke" in
less than a week after payday.
Following the testimony OF the
council members. IL was said that
further hearings on the Heating bill
would be held by the Ryrns' subcom-
mittee at a subsequent date to be
announced later. at which Frank
, Morrison and representative OF Gov
eminent employees will be present.
probably after the Christmas holt
! days. These hearings will be open
TO the public. it was said
or the two hearings, that before
the Byrns committee on the Heating
bill has a more direct bearing on
the adjustment OF the salary prob
lem, as the final schedule OF in
crease to be determined ON for all
employees in the Government and Dis
trict service, will be the result of
deliberations Of this committee. The
hearing before the Postoffice sub
committee will, however, be OF i'm
portanCe in the ultimate decision OF
Congress as affecting the status OF
I the postal employees, who were dis
] eliminated against last year when
I other Federal employees were grant
ed and 10 per cent increase.
Has Several Bills.
J. Tho Bell subcommittee has before
it several bills. each providing an in
/ crease Tor the employees OF a particular
| branch OF the postal service in which
its author is especially interested.
/ The work Of this committee will b.
/ TO coordinate these bills, and work
out standardized scale Of wage IN.
crease applicable to all employees
! alike. Among the bills to be consid-
cred, are the Madden bill for a GRADED
automatic increase for clerks IN first
and second class postoniccs and letter
carriers in the city delivery service;
the Stevenson bill Tor equipment and
maintenance OF rural carriers. and the
Kelly bill FOR - per cent Increase
Tor all city and rural carriers, post
office clerks and railway mail I'm
ployes.
Postmaster General Burleson. do.
spite the fact that he Is known as
among tn" opponents Of a special
salary incrcas" for postal employees
other than the promotion system now
IN effect has offered to place Al tn
committee disposal all data Ia pos
session Of his department bearing on
the question, and wrote Chairman Bell
to the effect that every opportunity
would be given the employees to ap
pear before the committee to present
their case.
Representative on Hand.
As result OF this, representatives
of the various branches of the service
were on hand when the committee
met today for its first hearing. James
\. Grant, postmaster at Alto. Ca, who
arrived in Washington Saturday to
testify regarding the Fourth class
postmasters claims. probably came
the greatest distance.
Thomas +. Flaherty, secretary treas
urer OF the National Federation OF
Postal Employees, who recently mT d'
bitter attacks on the Postmaster Gen
eral In connection with Mr.. Burles9n''
efforts 10 ban unioniSm in the p0k ta
service was one OF the drst Witnebsei