Evening star., 1918-12-11
REPORT 'FAIVORS AID |
FOR WAR WORKERS
Measure as Received Today
in House Assists Those Get.
ting Up to 81 400.
PROVISION RETROACTIVE

War workers in Washington who
are being demobilized. hundreds of
whom have not saved their fares back
home. are to be provided with trans
portation. including sleeping car ac-
commodations. by the government
Chairman Sherley Of the House ap-
propriations committee today re-
ported favorably q bill providing for
transportation from the District Of
governmental employees whose serv-
Ices are no longer required. This spe-
cifically covers all civilian employees
receiving compensation. exclusive of
the $3.50 bonus. at the rate of $1,400 or
less. It provides for all in this class
who have come to the District since
April s. 1917. and is operative to cover
all those who are leaving their en-
ployment here up to March i. 1919.
The bill as reported providing such
transportation and sleeping car fare
employees who have already left the
District since. the signing Of the
armistice. or who may leave prior to
the passage of this bill up to Decem-
Der 10. For all these the cost of
actual railroad transportation, in
cluding sleeping car, from the District
to the place from which the employe
was accepted or such other place not
a greater distance to which the en-
ployes may have gone. is to be made.
It Is specifically stipulated that the
benefaction under. this act Is not to
be supplemented in any. manner by
the various services to which the
war workers are employees.
Explains Changes.
Under unanimous consent Chairman
mediate consideration He explained
that 1t had been amended over the
original draft which, provided trans
portation for all those receiving
salaries up to $4,000 and to provide
for reimbursement to those who had
already gone to their homes.
Chairman Sherley emphasized that
before the war there were some-
thing over 10000 clerical workers in
the government service.
Since that time about $4,000 addi-
tional have been brought here to
handle the increased work in all govern
ment departments. Mr. Sherley said that
as possible was desirable for three
reasons. First, economy in govern
ment expenditure: second. promo-
ton of efficiency .in government af-
fairs; third, for the comfort of the
community.
Rapid Reduction Necessary.
He explained that most of the
$4,000 war workers have come here
as q result of an intensive campaign
conducted by the various depart
ments, and that the House recog-
nizes that a rapid reduction of the
clerical force is necessary, and that
many of these workers have not
been prevident enough to save their
transportation back home.
Unless something Is done, he pointed
out, either Of two evils Will result First
pressure to retain these employees on
the government pay roll; second, many
will be left in tho city subject to the
charity of others.
mo situation could be worse for the
community or for the employees than
to be dismissed from service, without
other employment" said Chairman Sher-
ley in reply to questions from the floor
Chairman Sherley said that he esti.
mated about so per cent OF the wartime
increase in clerical force should be dis.
connected from the pay roll before March
l. In this connection he appreciated
that some bureaus Of the government
necessarily must continue for a con.
siderably longer time.
Representative Garner Of Texas rails
ed the question as to whether the bill
as framed would allow dollar a veal
men to collect transportation. and sait
he wished the measure worded SO as t.
exclude them.