Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-11-29
Chairman of House Appropri-
ations Committee Consider.
ing Plight of Dismissed.
WILL DEVISE WAY TO AID,
BUT NOT IN BONUS FORM
Clerks Likely to Be Provided With
Railway Tickets at the Gov
ernment's Expense.

War workers in the District of Co
lumbia who will be relieved Of their
jobs now that peace is in sight may
have their transportation expenses to
their homes paid by Uncle Sam. Il
was learned today that the proposal to
pay the travelling expenses from Wash
ington to the homes of these clerks is
being seriously considered by Chair
man Sherley of the House appropria-
tions committee.
Either as separate measure, or as
rider to one of the appropriation
bills. legislation will be offered for
this purpose. In view of the fact that
thousands of these war workers are
to be dismissed from the government
departments and bureaus in this city
! at an early date, it is entirely prob
able that a separate joint resolution
providing transportation for them
will be introduced and put through
quickly as possible.
Not in Form of Bonus.
This transportation will not be
given the clerks as a bonus in. money,
but some plan for issuing railroad
tickets to the clerks probably will
be devised.
1t is recognized by Mr.. Sherley and
other members of the appropriations
committee that it would be real
! hardship for thousands of these war
ha pnvprn.
ment employment on short notice.
Many of them would have difficulty
paying their way home, and probably
a great many would not be able to get
home, since it has cost them pracu-
cally all of their salaries to live In
Washington during war times. Many
| young women and young men might
| become stranded in Washington, ana
the result might assume proportions
| of national scandal
Mr. Sherley Calls Conference.
Mr.. sher1ey has asked the heads OF
the various departments to meet with
him and his committee beginning Mon
day to determine how much OF the ap-
propriations made for their depart
ments for the present hscal year can
be covered back into the Treasury OF
1.-THE United States. Mr.. Sherley believes
| that large sums of money can be saved
| to the government in this way AS
soon as his committee has all the facts
at hand it will frame a provision COW
| ering back intot the Treasury the
amount of money which can be SO
saved. This means that the sword VIII
/ fall upon the official heads of thou
sands Of these War WORKERS "ithout
/ delay.
! Chairman Sberley, it is understood.
believes that the only way for this
| country to get back to peace basis
and to economic is to stop spending
| that this
should be adopted Immediately. and
the great majority Of the members of
Congress are in agreement with him.
| 1t is understood that already the
departments are beginning to dismiss
employees who have come here to do
war work in considerable numbers. 1t
| is all the more necessary therefore
! that legislation to provide for the
TRANSPORTATION of these people to their
homes should be speedily enacted II
/ Justice is to be done to them, officials
believe.
Increase in Salaries Considered.
Congress probably will be asked to
increase the salaries of government
| employees, particularly in view OF the
high cost of living. There will be
strong opposition to permanent in
creases as general thing. While
many of the employees are known to
be underpaid, it is unlikely that nat
permanent increases in pay will be
granted them at the coming session
of Congress.
| bonus for the year, similar TO
law for the present fiscal year. prob
abIy will be granted the employees.
! Chairman Sherley and others believe
that it will not be long before man!
persons will be seeking empioymen,
in the government service instead OF
the government seeking employees
They believe that the country Is go
ing back to peace basis ana tna'
living cost and wages must decrease
and they are not anxious to make per
manent increases in salaries unit
condition have been readjusted.
Suggests a Commission.
A commission should be appointed TO
Investigate the question of salaries
and wages of government employees.
If is understood to be the opinion o.
Chairman Sherley.
After investigation by such COM
mission Congress will be able to act
on the subject of wage increases for
government employees with far more
intelligence than it can today. he is
said to hold.
Mr.. Madden Interested.
representative Madden Of Illinois.
one Of the republican members OF the
House appropriations committee. aisc
IS taking a keen interest in the ques
ton Of dealing with the DISCHARGED
war workers He does not believe.
however. that legislation giving them
Transportation home will be necessary.
He said today that he believed tha.
the departments themselves could
handle this matter in fair way fo:'
the smplSyeS5d aSge5d He he T. t,..ss sas
foiriv He believes that they should
given plenty Of notice ooS before :. being eng
to make provision for themselves for
their II journey home. He indicated
that the government departments
might be able to assist them finan-
cia1iy from money at their disposal to
make the homeward trip.
1;wan much consideration to the
Of salary Hs lncTeasss 10 boW Cow
e.,ar that he would seek to have
made permanent the increases grant
ed to postal employees under the cus-
10