The Washington times., 1920-04-03
SEEKS TOOUST
P.0.LAWCLERK
Burleson Aroused by Subordi-
Mates Attempt to Better
Women'S Conditions.

Because. while in the capacity Of
employees representative on the de-
partment committee, acting with the
reclassification commission, he 10 al
legged to have cause to be prepared.
or personally prepared" statement
in behalf OF women employed In the
mail bag repair shop, which set forth
that "they work in an atmosphere
saturated with dust" and contained
other assertions with which Post
master General Burleson has taken
issue, S. L. Blassingham, law clerk
OF the post office department, was
served with notice today. to show
cause why he should not be removed
from the service.
The charges are that Mr.. Blasting
ham "willfuly and deliberately mis-
stated certain facts" in the brief sub
mitted to the reclassifcation commits
sion at a hearing on December "a,
1919, which contained the following
statements:
Formerly the women worked upon
the leather bottom bags also, but
this work was taken away form them
and given to the men about the time
the classification commission ques-
tio-aires were distributed In the
shop.
Obliged to Work In Dust.
They work in an atmosphere sat
urated with dust"
The National Federation OF Federal
Employees has lost no time in cham
pioning Mr.. Blassingham's position.
since the federation has repeatedly
had complaints about sweat shop"
conditions in the mail bag repair
shop.
1t was declared at the headquarters
of the federation this morning that
the action against Mr.. Blassingham
had long been expected, as well as
against other Government employees,
who, 1t was stated, had come before
IN" rec'assification commission and
"told the truth" about deplorable
wo king conditions to the discomfort
of those responsible for them.
The point at issue with fererence
to work upon the leather bottom bags,
union officials point out, is that for
the leather work men receive higher
pay than the women receive FOR can
vas work, but when the leather work,
or other heavy work, such as the air.
mail bags, Is done by women. the
latter do not receive the mems rate
of pay.
Says Facts Were Accurate.
Mr.. Blassinghams' reply to Mr.. Bur-
Lesson is In part as follows:
'My connection with 1t (the brief)
was merely that of the representa-
tive of the employees. l understand
1t to be my duty (as employees repre-
sentative on the committee acting
with the reclassification commission)
to see that the case for the employees
was presented as they saw 1t.
Consequently. when employees OF
the equipment shop requested hear
ing before the commission I arranged
for II; I had them gather in meetings
and I discussed working conditions In
the shop with individuals, both men
and women. The brief was unded
upon material obtained In the manner
indicated. and 1 can truthfully say
that to the best of my knowledge and
belief the facts contained in the brief
were as accurate as 1t was humanity
possible to have them.
Concerning the truth of the state
ment contained in the brief. i refer
you to the transcript of the hearings.
fro-' "-hich you will discover that the
superintendent Of the mail bag rep ir
shop u Imi,ted. practically in its en-
tirety, the content of the document
so far as the presence of dust in large
quantities is concerned"