Evening star., 1919-12-31
PROTEST CHARGE
OF '|NEFF|C|ENCY'
Federal Employees Answer the
Statement Attributed to
J. c. Blackwell.

Officials of the National Federation
of Federal Employees and represent
atives of the several local federal
employees unions met last night at
the national headquarters to repddi-
ate sentiments announced as having
been expressed by J. c. Blackwell,
first vice president of Federal En-
ployes' Union o. 2, in a speech be-
fore the union executive committee
that by reason of inefficiency there
are 5000 federal employees that
should be dismissed for the good of
the service The proposition advanced
b.. -. Blackwell that the federal
employees unions are not trade unions.
but work" unions, with no sympathy
with or for the trade union move
ment as represented by the Central
Labor Union and the American FEEDER
alton of Labor, with which they are
affiliated. also was fatty repudiattd
1t was asserted at the meeting that
Mr.. Blackwell not only did not make
the remarks credited to him before
the executive committee of his union
when the resolutions which he had
offered were UP for consideration, but
that he never expressed any such opin-
ions to members of the executive COM
mittee or other members of the organi-
zation.
The article as printed in The Star
yesterday against which such a storm
of protest has arisen, was based on
Stdtcueut IuTnlSneO TO Inc star from
Mr.. Blackwell in typewriter form.
John S. Beach Issues Statement.
According to a formal statement
ters of the National Federation of
Federal Employees, John S. Beach,
president of Local o. 2, said:
so far as / know Mr.. BlackweIls s
statement nj represents nobody but
IIIfi ind rct, la
plan for bureau of the budget. but
neither that resolution nor anything
that was said by any member of the
executive committee had any refer
ence to such a proposal as the dis
missal of $1,000 so-called inefficient
employees"
According to the same statement
from headquarters. Secretary-Treas-
urer r. J. Newmyer pointed out that
inefficiency would have to be proven
in each individual case before any
body. or any organization, would be
justified in recommending dismissal :;
to do so otherwise would be viola
ton of the whole theory of the civil
service law, as well as of the policies
of the federation.
Mr.. Newmyer, it is stated, also de-
clared that Mr.. Blackwell evidently
did not understand the purposes of
his own organization. as shown by
its Legislative program. constitution,
commission, etc. and that the lat
ter's statements must be taken as
representing his personal views alone
He took particular exception to the
statement that the Federal Employees
Union organization is hot a trade
union.
I'VE are duly affiliated with the
A. F. of L." he said. land expect to
continue in the future to do every
thing possible to further the labor
movement as represented by that fed
eration.'-
No "IneHicients" on Rolls.
Miss Gertrude McNally. secretary of
the women's union of the bureau of
engraving and printing, which is
local No. 105 of the federation, con-
tended that there are no inefficients
on its rolls. According to U. J. Miller,
president of the Interior Department
branch, local No. 2, Mr.. Blackwell
in making the statements ascrtbed to
him. completely overlooked the fact that
this union had been fighting to secure
the passage of minimum wage bill
which shall give to all employees an en-
trance wage of at least enough to
live on,
"Inasmuch as Mr.. Blackwell fails to
recognize his organization as trade
union said S. E. Blassingham, pres
ident of the Post Office Department
branch, at is not surprising that he
overlooks the fact that the labor
movement. of which the Federal EN-
ployes' Union is a part, is a political
movement as well as an economic one.
Federal employees do not use the
strike - they must accomplish their
ends by legislation, and to secure leg
islation requires political methods"
Advocates Examinations.
In this connection it is interesting
to note that DR.. w. Carson Ryan of
the bureau of education and former
president of the Federal Employees
Union, No. 2. at a hearing of the pub
lie information and departmental pub
lication services, December 8, held at
the Senate office building, recon-
mended TO the joint congressional
commission on reclassification of
salaries in the District the elimina-
ton of 5000 to 1000 employees in the
government service here as a real
need for the betterment of the serv-
ice.
DR.. Ryan said the elimination of the
dead wood" was real need today.
IF Congress is sincere" he said, "it
can today take out 5000 or 1000 peo-
pie and save the government money.
In speaking for the elimination of
dead wood" DR.. Ryan declared that
proper retirement system and a
proper minimum wage would help
and that elimination should take in
the inefficient young as well as those
who might be inefficient by reason of
age.