The Washington times., 1922-06-07
1000 URGE:
OU5T|NCOF
HEAD HERE.
Chief of Desk Clerks Also criti-
cised as Martinet-Davis to
Get Petition.

Get Petition.
A petition said to bear the sig
natures of more than 1000 occu-
pants Of the Government hotels
for women, requesting that the
resignation of Mrs. Sarah E. Sum-
ner, general manager, be request
ed, will shortly be forwarded to
Secretary Of Labor Davis. it was
learned today. The abolition of
the office of superintendent of
residence houses. occupied by Miss
Lillian Randall, also is asked.
Say Management Topheavy.
1t Is charged by the guests all
workers in Government offices, that
the management Is top heavy and
oyerpaid and that about the only
move made toward cutting down
overhead expenses, as demanded by
the House Committee on appropria-
tions, Is the contemplated closing
of one of the IL dormitories for
the summer when all are needed for
accommodation of the 1900 now In
them and a waiting list OF more
than 100.
The petitioners find fault with
Mrs. Summer on many other scores.
They claim the hotels are operated
on a scale placing them out OF the
reach Of lower-salaried clerks, that
requests for improvements in the
plant and service receive the answer
that "those who don't like the pceS
ent conduct can go elsewhere" and
that Mrs. Summers policies would
mean death to any private concern.
Say She's Martinez.
Miss Randall, who has charge OF
all desk clerks in the hotels, Is ac-
cused Of being martinez, given to
the making and enforcement OF use
less and annoying rules. Her elm
ination, IL Is claimed by the pen'
TONERS, would be for the good of
the organization.
1t Is said that a committee of thu
women gained the approval Of Direc
tor Of the Budget Dawes in their an
nounced intention to secure cut in
the overhead" by Topping from tht
top instead of lessening accommodd-
tions by closing one of the buildings
A similar closing last summer re-
suited in q state of "squatter sov
ereignty," a number OF girls refus.
ing to leave their quarters In the
structure to be emptied.
Mrs. Summer refuses to talk on
the petition and charges until the
matter is brought officially to her
attention. The heads OF the United
States Housing Corporation, which
has charge Of the hotels, also arc
anxious to avoid a controversy at
least until the petition ID in the
hands Of the Secretary of Labor.
Gets 5000 Salary.
The salary of Mrs. Sumner is
$4,000 a year, and that of Miss Ran
dali $4,000. Both are declared by
the housing corporation to be rot a
cent too high for the work and re-
sponsibility involved. The pay If
Miss Randalrs predecessor was 81 900
more than she receives.
The building said to be scheduled
for closing is G-H at the corner of
New Jersey avenue, and c street.
The women declare there are but 63
vacancies in the whole group, while
G-H houses 146 persons and there is
q waiting list of 118. On the other
hand, the housing corporation Off
cials say that there will be ample
accommodations in the remaining ii
structures during the summer. Mrs.
Sumner, 1t is claimed, Justifies the
closing on the grounds that the ap-
preparation for the current fiscal
year is nearly exhauster and that a
deficiency fund cannot be secured.
The women reply that the hotels
have shown some surplus each year
since they were opened in 1918.
These amounts, the housing corpo-
ration explains, however, have been
covered into the Treasury as mis-.
cellaneous receipts and the hotels
have no call upon them.
Food SquabbIe Still On.
The controversy between the
management and guests last sum-
mer over the alleged serving of
impure food did not end troubles
over the dining-rooms, Il appears.
The petitioners say that because
meal tickets have been made non-
transferable, they lose all chance
OF reimbursement IL they are forced
TO miss breakfast or dinner. This
Is necessary in many cases, 1t is
claimed because of irregular hours
in office, the need for a special
diet or attendance at secretarial
and stenographic> schools.
Friends of the staff, 1t is also
maintained, may use the dining
rooms without showing tickets
while regular guests who may have
mislaid ticket and purse are told
mo admittance without card or
money and no credit"
storms have brewed and subsidsEl
at the dormitories many times since
they were opened. The present one
promises TO be of more than usual
severity because of the high per.
centage, Of signatories to the peti-