Evening star., 1920-02-12
u. s. WORKERS WILL
GET SQUARE DEAL
Member of RecIassitioation
Commission Thinks Con-
!. qress Is Well Disposed.

Edward Keating. member of the re-
classification commission, told en-
ployes of the District at a meeting
in Pythian Temple last night that he
believes a majority of the members of
Congress want to give the govern
ment employees a square deal and will
do so when the salary facts are pre-
sented to them.
| although 1 feel that Congress has
when they have not been it was be-
cause they did not have enough facts"
| The report of the reclassification
SO buttressed with facts that all fair
minded men will be convinced of the
accuracy of its conclusions"
| Critics Rebukea.
In beginning his address Mr.. Keat-
| ing sharply rebuked men 'in and out
Of Congress who have criticised the
reclassiflcation commission before the
! commission has had a chance to re-
port on it's work.
ut is unfortunate that certain in
dividuals in and out of Congress have
seen fit to make a systematic attempt
to d:scredit the findings of the reclas-
| sification commission before the re-
SUITS VI Jul fdOOiS Soh oS idiu pSioSV
Congress. This is 20 manifestly un-
fair that l cannot believe that the
propaganda, however insidious and
persiste mt it may be. will be effective.
Il have a great deal of respect fer
the men who make up the American
Congress, and / am sure they may be
relied upon to approve or condemn the
commissions report not by what some
one tells them about 1t, but by what an
examination Of it's contents may reveal
IF our commission submits a report
which deals adequately with the situa-
If our report fails to measure up to that
standard it will be rejected. as a matter
Of course"
Referring to the proposal to give
Army officers q 81 per cent increase in
pay to maintain their social status, Mr..
fidence in the sense Of humor of Con-
gress to think that its members will
vote such an increase and not give the
civilian employees an increase that will
enable them to maintain the status Of
living"
Mr.. Keating said he was in favor of
maintaining the social status. but that
he believes also that the civilian gov
ernment workers should get q raise with
which TO buy enough ham and eggs to
| sustain life
FavORo Aetirenent and Reforms.
The speaker declared himself in favor
of an adequate retirement system for
the government. equal pay for equal
work without regard to sex or political
pull and reforms in the civil service.
AS to retirement, Mr.. Keating called
! attention to the fact that there are
$4,000 superannuates on tho government
pay roll. No department head has boon
found. he said, cold-blooded enough to
dismiss these people.
| Ry
| said. the government is paying them
a bigger pension than is suggested
in proposed legislation. In addition.
he continued, the government ma
chtnery is being clogged UP by fore
ing these aged workers to go to theiS
| desks every day.
Mr.. Heating asserted he did not b.
lieve the civil service should continue
as q half spoils and q half merit
| system" 1t should be made either
i one or the other. Reforms In the civil
service, he said. will not be brought
the demands Of the government work.
ers within the civil service.
He declared himself in favor Of or
ganisation and said every government
employe should belong to his local
union.
UsUes Fight far Ds.ls.
Luther G. Steward, president Of the
National Federation Of Federal EN-
ployes, told the District worksrs that
| within the next few weeka the gov
ernment employees must renew their
fight to have the temporary bonus
continue for another fiscal year. siuce
| it will be impossible for Congress to
act on the report Of the reclAssidca-
tion commission before passage Of the
Legislative appropriation bill.
He called attention to the fact that
the National Federation 10 working
this year for $3.50 bonus for workers
receiving less than S2.500 and q small
or amount for those whose basic pay
| 10 higher than that limit.
| Mr.. Steward urged evsry govern
/! ment employe to lay the bonus appeal
, before members of CongTssa with
, whom they are acquainted. He also
suggested that they induce friends
! and relatives in the states to write
an appeal for the bonus to their mem
/ bers lof Congress.
The meeting was under auspices Of
Federal Employees Union. Local No.
! SO. composed Of District government
workers. George w. Rae. yice presi-
dent of the local. presided. A musi-
| cal program also was rendered.