Evening star., 1920-02-03
REQUIRED TO OBEY
ANT|-STR|KE Law
Commissioners Decree Dis
missaI for Policemen and
Firemen Who Refuse.

Direct or indirect membership in
any organization which holds. claims
or uses the strike to enforce it's de-
| mands is deemed by the District Com
missioners sufficient cause for removal
from office of members of the police
or fire department. In an effort to
, learn if members of these two
branches of the District government
were complying with the recent act
of Congress in this respect the Com
missioners sent out questionnaires
requiring returns not later than this
morning.
1t was explained by two members
of the board of District Commission
ers today that the questionnaires
were not sent out at this time be-
cause of a reported renewal of the
work of the National Capital Police
mems Association, the delay being due
to a desire to wait until after the
firemens increase bill was passed.
Members of the police organization, a
meeting for which has been called
for tonight. say the NEE citing will have
no bearing on the labor union situa-
ton.
Will Ask Concessions.
According to policemen interested
in the call for tonight's meeting, the
association intends to make an effort
to have Congress legislate for six
day week and abolition of the reserve
system of requiring the performance
of duty in the police stations. in ad-
dition to the regular street duty. 1t
is their contention that they should
be given treatment accorded other
employees of the District in the mat
ter of having one day off each week.
They also will endeavor to have the
wartime bonus made permanent.
Subjects Of Query.
In the questionnaires the section
of the laws passed by Congress bear
ing on labor union affiliation is set
out. the section providing that no
member of either branch of the Dis
trict service shall be or become
member of any organization, or of All
organization affiliated with another
organization, which itself, or any
organization of which holds. claims,
or uses the strike to enforce it's de-
mandS.
The law further provides that i'm
mediate discharge shall follow the
presentation of sufficient proof that
any member of either force has vio-
lated the law. Six questions the
policemen and f1remen were required
to answer are as follows:
Do you belong to any employees or
ganization. trades union or labor
union?
If you do. give their names and To-
cation of each.
Does your organization hold. claim
or use the strike to enforce it's de-
mands?
With what other organization is
yours affiliated or in any way related?
Give their names and locations.
Is your organization affiliated with
any other which itself or any sub
ordinate, component or affiliated or
ganization holds, claims or uses the
strike to enforce it's demands?
Do you belong to any organization
of any kind which claims or uses the
strike to enforce it's demands?
Expect Reports Later.
1t is probable that the Commits
sioners, later in the week, will be
informed as to the result of the eff
forts Of Chief Wagner of the fire
department and Maj. Pullman, super
intendent of police, to learn if any
member of either department failed
to obey the law. 1t is known that
certain members of at least one of
the departments still retained cards
they held in union bodies at the time
they received appointments
All such persons will either have
to surrender such cards or be dis
missed from the service, according
to the Commissioners. At regular
meeting of police inspectors. cap
tains and other high officials of the
police department held yesterday. it
is stated, the matter or responses
to the missionaries was discussed.