Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-03
RESOLVES TO PUSH
FIGHT ON OVERTIME
Representative Rankin Talks
With Secretary McAdoo Re-
garding Engraving Bureau.
RELIEF OF'WORKERS URGED

| determined to bring her fight for
better conditions at the bureau of en-
craving and printing to successful
| conclusion Representative jeanette
Rankin of Montana conferred today
with Secretary McAdoo and Assistant
Secretary Crosby of the Treasury De-
partment, and let it be known that if
she could not obtain the action which
she seems to think necessary to prevent
overtime work for women, she will
take her fight to the Attorney General.
The woman member of Congress left
the Treasury in dissatisfied state of
mind after long conference with Assis-
| tant Secretary Crosby.
Director Ralph of the bureau of en-
! craving and printing, who had been
present at the conference, left the
Treasury before Miss Rankin, after
having told Mr.. Crosby that it is an
requisite number of stamps and other
engravlngs. including the liberty
bonds. without overtime, which is paid
for at a regular rate.
Assistant Secretary Crosby followed
Miss Rankin into the corridor and
spoke to her in the presense of many
witnesses while she was talking to
newspaper men,. He approached her,
after learning she had expressed dis
satisfaction. He said that the Treasury
all points of her complaint, but must
defer decision until after the Fourth
OF July, when she will be informed
what procedure the Treasury Depart
ment can take.
Department officials said they had
the greatest confidence in Mr. Ralph,
at the same time IL department action
is necessary to prevent any real in
justice it will be taken.
While Miss Rankin and Director
were
McAdoo one of the woman workers
from the bureau, whose name was
withheld. called at Secretary McAdoo's
once. She said she was prepared to
women now employed in the bureau Of
engraving and printing are opposed to
overtime work. She said that most
OF the women were willing and anx-
ious to earn the extra pay and that
they considered it a patriotic priv
ilege and duty. She was informed
that Director Ralph had the case well
in hand and would present his side
without any help at present
director Ralph declared that he could
d1sapprove every statement made by Miss
Rankin. He said that one instance Of a
women member Of his force crying be,
cause she was not allowed to leave her
work and go home to give her children
the wild rumors concerning conditions Of
the overtime work in the big plant.
Il have checked up this case" said
Mr Ralph. "and I have found that the
Two children were boys eishtesn and
fifteen years old. respectively" =
Miss Rankin told friends whom she
saw this morning that her investixa-
tions are showing a worse and worse
condition of affairs" She said that
former employees of the bureau have
been writing to her and calling upon
her. She said that many Of the former
employees are writing unsigned letters
and telling Of horrible conditions" Al
the same time. according to Miss RAN
kin. they explained the reason for re-
naming anonymous Is that they NAV
want to get back into the bureau.
Other Employees Working Overtime.
Mr.. Ralph said he received this morn
ing letters from ten members of Con
gress. telling him to stand pat" Soma
OF the letters contained statements that
government employees in all other
branches of the service are patrioticaIIy
working overtime. and in nearly every
instance no one is receiving any extra
pay.
Mr.. Ralph said that he had incurred
the enmity of about $50 women who
had requested that they be transferred
to the War Department. He said that
he could not spare them from the i'm
portant work now going on and that
he complied with the law in refustno
them this permission to transfer