Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-04-13
president EXPLAINS
| BUREAU D|S|M|SSALS.

WASHINGTON, April 11.-Presi-
dent Harding states in a letter to
Luther c. Steward, president of the
National Federation Of Federal En-
ployes made public by that organi-
cation last night that the changes
made in the bureau of engraving and
printing "were ordered after ex-
tended elaboration and were inspired
wholly for the good of the service"
II do not understand" he adds.
shat such statement or such an
action impugns any ones character,
or calls for charges against the en-
ployes concerned, or demands expla-
nation by the executive"
The letter follows:
II have before me your letter of
April 1, III which you write to me in
protest Of the executive action in
effecting the reorganization Of the
bureau Of engraving and printing,
and with which you enclose to me
the letter of Gertrude M. McNally,
secretary of the woman's union,
making similar protest. Because you
and Miss Mentally speak officially for
SO large a part Of federal employees
desire to make courteous acknowl-
edgement, but I must suggest, at
the same time, that courtesy shall
not be confused with apology.
"The charges made at the bureau
were ordered after extended delibera-
ton, and were inspired wholly for
the good of the service. 1t was so
stated at the time. I do not under.
stand that such statement or such
an action impugns anyone's char.
acter, or calls for charges against
the employees concerned, or demands
explanation by the executive.
1.-THE order in this case specifically
stated that those of the dismissed
employees who were eligible to retire
ment would be retired as from the
date of the order; which think you
will agree Is not subject to the con-
structton that their characters were
1mpunged in any way. Miss Nc
Nally's letter states that these per-
sons are ineligible to reinstatement
in the government service, because
summarily dismissed on charges :.
/. and they lost the benefit Of
the retirement act This indicates
a distinct misunderstanding of the
action taken. There were no charges,
and there was a distinct assurance
that the benefits Of the retirement
act were preserved.
I'm the circumstances which were
presented to the executive at the
time of taking this action, it seemed
apparent to me then BIS 1t does now,
that no action less sweeping than
was taken, could give complete as.
surance of the full protection of the
governments interests.
81 shall maintain every regard for
the civil service law, but if a respon-
sible executive head may not take
such action as it deemed necessary
for the good of the public service
then such inhibition on the powers
Of the executive should be made
very clear to congress, to govern
ment employees and to the American
people, to which are all answerable.
Then the responsibility may no Ion
ger be lodged with the executive.
Until such understanding is made
clear I invite you and others who
speak for the federal employees to
join me in doing the things deemed
necessary, to promote the highest
possible degree of federal service"
The federation replied to Mr.. Har.
ding's letter and pointed out that
in addition to the stigma attached to
them by the manner of their dis
missal all but two of the (dismisse0
employees will lose their retirement
annuity"
1.-THE principle of the civil service
law is the fundamental safeguard
to the public service" the letter
said, adding that the highest eff
ficiency, sense of duty and respon-
sibility to the public should "be
brought about through strictly
merit system of appointment, pro.
motion and dismissal