Evening star., 1920-01-12
WORKERS FEARFUL ].
AFTER TESTIMONY
TO RECLASS|F|ER
Belief That Superiors Might
Act Against Them Creates
Unusual Situations.

I Fear on the part of some govern
/ ment employees who testified before
! the Joint congressional commission
( on reclaSSifcation of salaries in the
! District that steps might be taken
against them by their superior Off
! GERS on account of testimony pre-
! sented to the commission has created
! an unusual situation in government
I circles.
While no cases of this kind have
been brought to the attention of the
members of the reclassiffcation COM
| mission. it is widely understood that
| fear has been expressed by some of
those who testified as to poor work
| ing conditions and unfavorable en-
vironment.
Aftermath Of Hearings.
This aftermath to the thirty hearings
! before the rcclas ssifica ton commission
| is creating interest in federal circles.
1t is. generally understood by em-
| ployeS, however. that the mem berS OF
| the reciassflcation commission them
selves would stand behind the en-
ployes n case Of complaints of intimi-
daticn on the part of the superior of
ficers for statements made before the
Reconsideration comm ission.
In at least two hearings before the
commission, it was recalled today. su
perintendents of offices appeared to
combat statements made by employees.
In one instance. when the employees
asked the commission for Il minimum
wage of about $1.220. tie minimum
generally asked by the clerks. the
superintendent of this office told the
commission he thought this minimum
was toe high. and suggested much
lower one for his employees.
1t was generally realized by the en-
ployes that the reclassifiCation COM
mission members were unofficially ION
their side" and it was for this reason
that manv of them smoke out so
frankly of conditions which they al
legged to exist in some of the various
departments and their bureaus.
No Specific Case Reported.
notwithstanding this feeling these
employees have been on tenterhools
ever since, it was learned today. anx-
iously waiting to see what action su-
perTor officers might take against
them. There have been rumors
throughout the government depart
ments. but no case has been specif-
ically brought to the attention of the
reclassitication commission of any
dire results to employees for frank tes-
timony before it.
1t is generally believed that,in case
any such complaint should arise the
reclassification commissioners would
stand behind such complainants to the
full extent in an endeavor to see that
justice might be done. 1t is pointed
out that all the 200 persons. men and
women, who testified before the COM
mission did so as Representatives of
their fellow employees. mostly in writ
ten briefs signed by the committee
members who drew them un
The hearings were conducted un-
der the law authorizing the reclassi-
fication commission, and all who teSti-
fed are being given opportunity to
look over and correct. if necessary,
the transcripts containing their testi-
mony.
The National Federation of Federal
Employees. as well as local Federal
Employees Union No. 9. it is declared.
would stand 'squarely behind any en-
ployes who might be intimidated in
any way by superior officials for any
statements they might have made dur
ing the reclassification hearings.
Especially did woman employees point
out what they alleged were insani-
tary conditions in several bureaus of
the government. The women at the
hearings seemed quite fearless in
their testimony at the time but now
that the hearings are over ana the
routine of government life has been
resumed some of these employees are
looking for something to happen.
On the last lap of it's work, the
reclassification commission TO-DAY re-
leased thirteen of the members of Its
classifying, clearical and typing staff
These employees will tomorrow re-
sumo their work in the various de-
partments from which they were as
signed to the commission
Members of the classifying stan
who TODAY severed official cpnnec-
tions with the commission are c: c.
Houghton, Federal Trade Commission
Miss Nj. Doonan and Miss Z. r. Ober.
ly. Department of Agriculture: .. ).
Adams. Department of Commerce;
X. patterson. Federal Trade Com
mission;IA S. Goss. Treasury Depart
ment: s. F. Smith, Department of the
Interior: T. p. Tade. Treasury De-
partment. and A. d. Wilroy, Navy
Department.
Stenogra piers and clerks who to-
, morrow resume duties in, the depart
ments are Miss n. d. Davis. Mrs. T.. -
| Sherwood Miss Margaret Clark and
Miss Margaret Rust. All Will return
Dan rfO1oNt