Evening star., 1920-10-01
FEDERAL CLERKS
PROMISED AID BY
RIVAL CANDIDATES
Harding and Roosevelt
Pledge Earnest Consider
alton" of Problems.

Earnest and sympathetic consid-
Grafton" to questions affecting gov
ernment employees is pledged by SEN
ator Warren G. Harding, republican
candidate for President in a letter
sent by him to the National Fedora
tion of Federal Employees in reply to
a questionnaire on reclassification and
other matters.
L have your letter Of August {, and
generally think my viewssprobabiy
accord with the suggestions made
therein. wrote Candidate Harding
to President Luther c. Steward Of
the federation.
L think you can rely upon the his
torlc Justice of the republican party
In dealing with matters of this kind. :"
continues Mr.. Harding land if called
to higher responsibilities in connec-
ton with the administration Of the
government, / shall be glad to give
earnest and sympathetic considera-
ton to these questions as they may
come to me-"
Mr.. Harding had been asked his
views as to various points in the re-
publican platform. such as collective
Darg gaining, the rights of government
employees to be safeguarded by laws
and tribunals, and honest enforce
ment of the civil service law. He was
asked to indicate his stand on re-
classification. especially as it involves
new employment policy for the en-
tire civil service of the country.
RooseveIt's Reply Similar.
Franklin D. Roosevelt. democratic
candidate for Vice President, also has
answered the national federation
along similar lines. In view Of the
fact that Mr.. Roosevelt, as former as
sistant secretary of the Navy, was in
timately connected with the govern
ment clerks here. his answers are
regarded as of particular interest Mr.
Roosevelt's letter says. in part:
Il am in favor of establishing for
the government service personnel
boards, upon which the employees
would have representation, and before
which. questions of wages and en-
ployment conditions would be heard.
/ have found from personal, practi-
cal experience that this has worked
very satisfactorily in the navy yards,
and it is my belief that what is bene-
fetal to one branch of the service
would be equally applicable to every
other branch of the service"
Interprets Platform Plank.
Speaking of the following from the
emocratic platform: I'VE profess
scrupulous1 regard for the conditions
declares:
II believe that this passage should
be Interpreted to mean the establish
ment of a board composed Of men in
the service to pass upon and adjudi-
cate questions of discipline and dis
greatly to the advantage of the gov
ernment service to have men entering
the same to be assured of a square
deal All appointments and promo
tions in the civil service should be abb
solutely free from any political infiu-
ence whatever. l believe that the con
ditions surrounding service in the
government should be such as TO at
tract men of ability. and such as to
retain them when the service is for
is only possible when man can feel
that by his own efforts he will receive
J promotion"
Mr.. Roosevelt states that he be-
lieves that in all government posi-
tions there should be minimum wage
of living as shown by authentic in
vestigations. I believe that the en-
! tire civil service of the United States
he continues, should be reclassifled
! along lines which will provide for a
J salary commensurate with the char
f.! acter and skill of particular employe.
+. In other words, ] believe that it is
E. entirely wrong to continue the existing
! condition of having men working side
!; by side, doing the same character OF
!! work and type of work, witNA6ne get
F. ting, say. 500 month and the other
/ $3.50. This classification should be
f, made without discrimination as to sex
! Fails to Answer Query.
! Regarding central administrative
control. this question is put in such
! general terms that definite answer is
| impossible" concludes Mr.. Roosevelt
| whether or not central administra.
| tive control is a. good thing for the
| welfare of the employees depends en-.
| tirely upon the detail of the proposed
| organization.
| ''1t is easy to see that some such
| organization might be of great bene-
| fit, and on the other hand should IL
be improperly organized might work
indescribable harm to the employees
themselves. 1t is one Of those things
| which cannot be intelligently discussed
until a very definite scheme is pro.
! posed" 1888