Evening star., 1923-12-08
PLEA TO PRESIDENT
BY i. S. EMPLOYEES
Delegation Protests Placing
Compensation Commission
Under Pension Bureau.

Protests against placing the United
States Employees Compensation Com
mission under the Jurisdiction Of the
pension bureau was made to the Presi-
dent today by delegation represent
Ing the organized government en-
ployes in this city. The President re-
ceived the delegation in his office,
and when advised that the compensa-
tion commission should be continued
as separate agency of the govern
ment and not be made subordinate to
any department of the government,
as contemplated in the reorganization
plan approved bv the President and
now in the hands of the joint con-
gressional committee on reorganiza-
ton, he assured them that he thought
the plan merely provided for housing
the commission near the pension bu-
reau, but not placing it under its
jurisdiction.
Precedents Are Cited.
The President was told bv the rem
resentatiVes of the employees that 1t
has been the experience of the states.
including Massachusetts, that work
mems compensation laws can be best
administered by a board or commits
sion vested with final authority on
questions of facts. The submerging
of the compensation commission, the
delegation argued, would be step
backward and would not work to the
best interests of the government In
other words the delegation declared
that it would be unwise for various
reasons to change the status of the
comm SSion.
They requested that the President
notify the joint committee before
preparing the bill to bring about the
reorganization of the executive de-
commission an independent agency.
III order that the important work
under its Jurisdiction could be ad-
miniStered in accordance with meth
DDS that have proved satisfactory TO
! all concerned.
Members OF Delegation.
Those in the delegation were Luther
{. Steward, president of the National
Federation of Federal Employees;
Thomas F. F!aherty, secretary-treas-
urer OF the National Federation of
Post Office Clerks: Edward J. Gainor,
president of the National Association
of Letter Carriers; Harry w. Strick-
| land, secretary of the Railway Mail
Association, and n. +. Alias, of dis
trict "A, International Association of
Machinists.
Representative Burton u Caller.
Representative Theodore curton of
| Ohio, who has been advancing the
interests of Cleveland to obtain the
republican national convention, call
ed to see the President, but he said
afterward that he wished to cali ana
latters attention to a number of
newspaper clippings regarding his
message to Congress. These clippings,
he said, indicated that the message
made a very favorable impression
generally throughout the United
States. Regarding C1eveland's chances
| to secure the convention, Mr.. Burton
said those behind the movement for
that city have obtained pledges of
forty members of the national COM
mittee to remain in an open frame
of mind until the meeting next Tues
day.
John 7. Adams. chairman of the
republican national committee, who
! is busily engaged at present in max
ing preparations for the important
conclave of republican leaders
throughout the country here next
week, saw the President for a few
moments.
Presidents Message Lauded.
Business men throughout the United
States cannot help but be impressed
by the principles advocated in the
Presidents message. according to
Edwin n. Hurley of Chicago, presi-
dent of the Shipping Board in the
early days of the war. who, with Rep
resentative Britten, called on Presi-
dent Coolidge today to pay their re-
spects and congratulate him on his
message.
Mr. Hurley said the sound business
principles and the great candor of the
President has served to make him
many friends. many of whom had
looked upon the President as an un
known quantity. He said that the
tax reduction proposal was especially
acceptable to the business interests
of the country.
Senator Mel can of Connecticut and
Representative Watkins of Oregon,
who called on the President today
separately, both added to the senti-
ments already expressed by many
others, to the President regarding the
admirable qualities and sound judg
ment expressed in his message. Rep
resentative Watkins declared that the
message generally struck a most pop
ular chord in his state, according to
messages he has since received
Miss Boardman's Mission.
Miss Mabel Boardman of the direct
ing board, American Red Cross, eX-
planned to President Coolidge today
that at the last session of Congress
bill was introduced providing for a
suitable memorial building to be
erected here as tribute to the
women of the world war, saying that
although it met with President Hard
ing's hearty approval it failed to be-
come a law and that it will again
be introduced in this session and that
she hoped 1t would have the Presi-
dents support.
President Coolidge will attend the
dinner of the Gridiron Club in the
Willard Hotel tonight.
Among others who saw the Presi-
dent today were: Representatives
Leavftt of Montana and NORM of
Pennsylvania and Dr. G.. J. Bowens
of Norfolk; James Kearney and A. C.
Reeves of Trenton, ". j.: r. P. Buree
of Los Angeles, Calf; Fred b. Smith
of New York, executive secretary of
the citizenship conference; Garet
Garrett of New York and the in
surance commissioners of several
states.