The Washington times., 1919-11-21
NEED Of
.N!Ia1hE0I'RAPHS
Value to Govt. of Machines and
Operators Brought Out At
Salaries Hearing.

Testimony showing the amazing de-
velopment of the mimeograph and
other office equipment in the various
branches of the Government service,
and the growing need for experienced
operators. was offered at the hearing
held this morning by the Joint Con-
gressional Commission on the Reclass-
ification of Salaries.
Represent natives of the 2,Ooo odd
men and women employed in the oper-
alton Of special office appliances in
Washington were present at the hear
ing. and offered an abundance of evil
dence in support of their claims for
increased wages.
It was shown that in no other place
in the world are SO many machines
used in offices and with so much eff
ficiency as In the departments and Bu-
reaus Of the United States Govern
ment. Hundreds of machines have
been built especially for the Govern
ment, 1t was stated, and some of the
most useful office machines now in
general use found their origination in
Governmental departments.
Experienee Needed.
This condition, Representatives of
the operators declared. makes 1t es-
sential that experienced operators be
employed, and that some incentive be
offered to hold them in their positions.
Under the present conditions opera
tcrs are constantly leaving their work
for other lines Offering greater re-
Enumeration. Further, 1t was declared
that operators on some Of the special
machines are, and must necessarily
be. experts not only in the operation
but in the proper care of their ma
chimes. In support OF their contention
for higher wages the representatives
OF the employees declared that the de-
n1ands made on Government employees
| ir ibis branch Of work is greater than
Ia civil life. They advocated that a
plan be inaugurated which would en-
able employees entering the Govern
ment service to take an examination
for promotion six months after enter
ing the service, and also permit them
to chage from one department to an
| other II qualified to do SO.
To Hear Printer..
Eight thousand printers and book
binders in the employ of the Govern
I ment will be Represented by a com
mittee which will appear before the
reclassihcation commission next Fri.
dey. The committee will also hear
representatives from the Bureau OF
| Engraving
| The committee will lay before thee
commission a plea for better condi-
tions and increase in wages Among
these requests will be one for time
and q half for overtime, sick leave,
and an increase in wages COM
mensurate with those paid in print.
ing and engraving establishments in
other cities.
The advisory committee Of the
Printing Trades Councils will meet
ttonight to formulate a definite plan
for the presentation OF their case to
the commission.
Teaehers 70 Appear.
The hearing now accorded the
printers and engravers is particularly
| significant in view Of the long and
drawn out struggle of these Govern
ment workers to obtain salaries pro-
portionate with the increase in the
cost of living.
Tomorrow the commission will hold
its hearing for the school teachers OF
the District in the chamber of the
COMMITTEE on Claims I'm the Senate
Offce building. Miss Alice Deal, head
Of the High School Teachers Union
will represent the teachers. and the
brief she will present is the result OF
several months work in the compila-
ton Of data