The Washington times., 1922-04-11
II 9
SPANKING
bYHARDINC
IS IGNORED
Meet Tonight to Find Out
Status Under Civil
/ Service Law.

Action of the Republican Adj
ministration in dismising the
twenty-nine employees of the Bu-
reau Of Engraving and Printing.
without plausible excuse" win
be taken up tonight at a special
meeting of the bureau local branch
of the Federal Employees Union,
having approximately $500 mem
bers.
Steward 10 Speak.
Union officials were non-committal
today as to what action would be
!. taken at tonight's meeting, but made
tt plain that the matter would be
vigorously taken up. President
Luther c. Steward, who was yester-
day given sound spanking" by
President Harding, will address the
meeting.
In response to an inquiry from the
union chief, protesting the action of
the Administration In dismissing the
t.Senty-nine employees without filing
ktS against
Harding yesterday, gently, but
firmly, informed the employees
chief to mind his own business.
'The courtesy of my reply must
not be confused with an apology"
the President declared.
shall retain every regard for
the civil service law, but IL a re-
sponsible executive head may not
take this action itseems apparent to
me, then, as IL does now, that no
action less sweeping than was taken
could give complete assurance of the
fun protection OF the Governments
interests" the Presidents letter
states.
Not Worried Over Spanking"
When asked today what action the
; employees Union would take, Presi.
dent Steward said: s-.-
f''1f i've been spanked feel 1T.
tie the worse for II, and as long as
n man don't know when he's spanked
and doesn't mind. II is immaterial.
The thing the union officials are
seeking TO find out, and which is of
vastly more moment to them than
my getting spanked, is their status
under the Civil Service.
The knowledge that IL Is within
the province of the department heads
20 dismiss a Civil Service employe,
without charges filed against him, is
not conducive to efficiency"
There is much dissatisfaction
among the women's divisions of the
union, 1t was declared today, through
the action of the Administration In
reappointing men to the positions
formerly held by the women dis
missed in the bureau.
OF the 81. 900 Government employees
IN Washington, some go, 900 are mem
bers of the union, officials stated
this morning.
Demand Protection.
Until the $1,000 Government EN-
ployes in Washington have some
definite assurance that the civil serv-
ice affords them some sort OF pro-
lection, and they cannot be dismissed
without cause or reason assigned,
this Administration nor any other
administration, can get the maximum
amount of efficiency, which Il is al.
legged is what is sought for" union
officers declare.
Consideration of proposed action
pending the outcome of the 'ipven.
tory" now being made in the Bureau
OF Engraving and Printing, will be
taken UP today by union officials.
Former Director wilmeth, 1t was
said, will confer with union officials,
but what action is proposed, officers
Of the union refused to state.
Statements published today that
the 1000 employees of the Bureau,
furloughed pending the investiga.
ton, would be put back to work
Friday, were denied by Director
Hill. +
"The statement is a hoax" Hill
declared. I'VE shall put the en-
ployes back TO work just as soon as
possible, but just what day that
win be, we cannot say"
Work of checking the millions in
bonds and notes, It was said, Is pro
gressing rapidly and II is the hope
of the Bureau officials that a report
can be made within a week or ten
days.
A statement will be issued this aft.
ernoon by Director Hill, on the pro.
greas that Is being made, and giving
the dismissed employees some def
mite idea OF when they may expect
20 return to their Jobs.