The Washington times., 1919-08-28
100 Ship Board Clerks,
/" Fired On Short Notice,
( Start O1Vn Jobs Bureau

Uncle Sam has proven himself .
very poor employer in the eyes Of 16o
members OF the division OF planning
and statistics Of the Shipping Board,
And because they expect to derive no
further benefit by working for him,
they have ceased their labors on be-
half Of the Shipping Board and di-
rected them toward the establishment
Of an informal, but nevertheless efh-
eient. employment bureau.
And thereby hangs this tale:
The division % planning and sta
tistics was organized by motion OF
! .he Shipping Board in February. 1918
Its duty was to study the shipping
question In varying lights and draw
up statistics showing the different
phases OF the past, present, and future
marine trade.
Based on the statistics obtained.
plans for the future development OF
the Shipping Board were outlined. For
more than a year now the division has
been part OF the machinery OF the
Shipping Board, and employees had
been priding themselves on the value
OF their services when. 'like q bolt
from a blue sky" as a worker de-
scribed it, following a meeting of the
given the employees Friday a week
ago that the division would cease to
exist on September 1.
Division Not Needed.
The reason given for abolishing the
division was that in line with present
policy OF the shipping board in re-
trenching all along the line, and try
ing to centralize the work of the
shipping board in order to weld a
more compact, solid agency in the.
work of the organization. the divi-
sion was found to constitute an ex-
cess piece Of equipment. And because
those at the head OF the shipping
board found the work of the division
in their eyes complete, 1t was
abolished.
The plan to abolish the division
was known before it was presented
to the board meeting for action by
the ''higher-ups" in the division. but
they never entertained seriously the
thought that the members OF the
board would find they could dispense
with the planning and statistical or
ganization.
So when the action OF the board
Thursday became Known, IL proved a
surprise. not only to the 160 employees
OF the division. but to those directing
the work Of the organization also.
short Notice Given.
What proved the final blow to the
employees, however. was the fact that
notice was given on Friday that the
division would be discontinued on
Monday, two days more than a week
distant.
W. Carson. Ryan. jr., president OF
the Federal Employees Union No 2. on
hearing OF the proposed short
notice" dismissal Of the employees, dl-
rected a letter to Judge j. Barton
Payne. chairman OF the board pro-
testing.
Needs Action BY Board.
At the office OF Mr.. Payne it was
stated the chairman is now consider
ing the letter, and that il any de-
cision to give the members of the
division longer time 10 seek other en-
p'oyment was reached, II probably |
would require the action of the board. |
IL could not be stated as to how
Mr.. Payne would consider Mr. Ryan's !
communication, but II was pointed out
that 1t would not be fair 10 keep
the employees. on the Government pay
roll any longer, now their duties could
be dispensed with by the board
The effect of the short notice was
varied among the employees. To some
OF them just about to go on leave, II
came without warning and cut OF
their plans for a vacation. These. |
however. were counted most fortunate
because they will be paid vaca sio7 /
money during the time they seek !
other employment.
.i-s EStnbIi-h jobs Bureau.
To some others, either just return
ing from vacation, or else on leave |
when the news reached them, IL al I
most amounted to a disaster. The |
hardships to the employees probably
would be serious en- some cases: had