The Washington herald., 1917-12-05
Leaders Of Organized Gov
ernment Employees to
Meet Here Dec. IS.
Is AND Is PER CENT !
ADVANCES NOW ASKED
Congress Expected to Rec.
ognize Justice Of Plea for
Underpaid Workers.

Government employees will start
nationwide campaign December
IS to convince members of Con-
gress by the force of arguments
presented by constituents that in
creased compensation is necessary
for all Federal workers up to and
including the $4,000 grade.
This fact developed last night,
following the announcement in
The Washington Herald that the
District Commissioners were the
only dpartmental heads whose
estimates contemplated the con-
tinuation of the S and 10 per cent
graded increases which the en-
pIoyes, up to and including the
81 300 grade. will enjoy until next
July. ~
The executive council of the Ma
tional Federation of Federal En-
ployes has been called in special
meeting here December IS to aid
in the campaign. These men come
from all parts OF the country.
Z Voters in the Ranks.
+ The organized employees are in a
much stronger position now than
they $r-ere g.hen they Instituted their
fight, from tho fact that they now
| have branches In all the large cities,
| and members possessing votes who
| can exert influence with their district
| representatives to bring about an
equitable readjustment Of salaries that
/ will conform to existing living con-
ditions.
The new schedule of increases for
which the government workers will
aim. and in which they will have the
enthusiastic and influential support
of President Samuel .Gompers, and
the American Federation OF Labor.
calls for Is pcr cent advances for
those receiving $1,a0 and less Is
per cent to those receiving more than
$500 and including $500. 10 per cent
to those receiving more than $1.50o
and including 5000, and s per cent
to those receiving more than 5000
and including $500.
Unless there is corrective legisla-
sion, the 10 and per cent increases
granted last July will lapse next July
and the clerks affected will go back
on the old basis automatically.
Leaders In Campaign.
! The meetings to plan this new cam
paign will be held at A. F. of L.
/ headquarters under the direction of
the following officers:
II. NJ. McLarin. president; E. ].
Newmeyer. of Washington. secre-
! tary-treasurer: Luther c. Steward,
! Kansas City, first vice president: w.
E. Junker. Brooklyn. second vice
president; W. J. Burke. Boston, third
vice president: Miss Florence Ethe-
ridge. Washington, fourth vice presi-
| dent; w. T. Griffith. El Paso, Tex,
fifth vice president: Charles F. Nagel,
OF Chicago, sixth vice president;
Martin ]. German, Montreal, seventh
vice president, and National Or
ganizer R. E. Peabody.
OF prospects for victory in the
fight an organization official SAYS:
1.-The and 10 per cent increases
have not been at all adequate and
we oelieVe Congress can be induced
to grant the greater increases. The
executive officers of the government
nearly all are with us in the fight
and we will have their hearty sup
| port.
United Effort Essential.
We have only to convince Con-
| sres OF the equitableness Of our
stand and the necessity for the in
creases to insure that they will be
| granted. This task, though, will re-
quire the undivided support of all
government employees and their
| friends. DIT means a hard and long
night, waged by all. and not only a
few All should join the union and
help.
In order that Congress may be
| convinced of the necessity of higher
wages, 1t is absolutely necessary
mat the government employees Of
washington take an, active mart in
the campaign, not only by joining
the union immediately. but by per-
sonal efforts. Unless they show a
vital Individual interest it will be
hard to convince Congress that more
pay fs as badly needed as it is.''
Help from Officials.
| supplementary reports now being
made to the House Appropriations
committee by department heads,
showing hoy the increases have
worked out the first ouarter, are be-
ing relied upon to a large extent by
\ friends of the clerks to force upon
skeptical economists in Congress the
necessity and practicability Of max
ing increased wages permanent.
Representatives Austin. of Tennes-
| see5 Nolan, Of California; Howard, of
Georgia; Gallivan. of Massachusetts,:
Keating, Of Colorado; Van Dyke, of
Minnesota, and Crosser. of Ohio. are
among the members who will renew
the fight to see that the horizontal
increases are retained and II possible
increased at the present session.
Sentiment heard at the Capitol yes
terday indicates that the case of the
government employees has been ma
terially strengthened since one year,
ago, due to the great increase in the
cost Of living and the advances inI
wages which private concerns have
given voluntarily