Evening star., 1923-02-17
QUICK AID ASKED
FOR j. S. EMPLOYEES
Five Organizations Urge Con-
gress to Restore "Sick and
Injured" Benefits.
MARCH 4 LAST DATE
Several in Washington Depend on
Compensation Commits
sion Pay Roll.

Appealing for immediate action on
emergency legislation to provide pro-
lection to sick and Injured government
employees who will otherwise be cut off
the compensation pay roll of the
United States Employees Compensa-
ton Commission by ruling Of Con-
troiler General McCarl, FIVE national
organizations of federal employees yes
terday addressed letter to mem
bers of Congress.
Unless the proposed amendments To
existing law are enacted before
March 4, it was set forth, the COM
mission must discontinue payments
now being made under awards to
about 40 men and women, who are
either themselves in hospitals or
whose dependents are receiving death
benefits. Several persons in Washing
ton would be affected.
Early Hearing Prospect.
Tho proposed amendments to the
Federal Employees Compensation act
have been favorably reported by the
House judiciay committee, and 1t is
expected the rules committee will
provide opportunity this week or
early next week for the House to
consider the matter.
The decision Of the controller gen.
|eral, the employees explained, prohibits
the payment after June 80 Of any
award by the commission to persons
suffering from occupational disease
or to their dependents. Even the vic
Tins Of lead poisoning. OF occupa-
tional tuberculosis, of spotted fever
contracted in laboratory experiments
of pneumonia from exposure and eX-
ception weather conditions in north
ern climates, of deadly fumes or pois-
onous gases, all injuries and diseases
in fact, except through accident In the
narrowest sense Of the term. are de-
clared by the controller to be non
compensatable under the law.
In their letter to members OF Con-
gress the representatives or the or
Eanized employees say:
''The controller generals decision Is
contrary to the rulings and practice OF
the United States Employees Compen-
sation Commission ever since its es'
tablishment in 1915. 1t is. in fact, con-
trar-y to the decision Of the Massachu.
setts supreme court in q similar case
and reyerts to a period at least twenty
years back in workmen's compensation
legislation. 1t Is nevertheless prohtof.
tive, however, and the only rellef to
the employees affected by 1t appears tc
be some such legislation as that pro-
posed in these amendments to the act"
Among the government services
especially hazardous in respect to oc.
cupatfonal diseases are the railway
mail. lighthouse service,-publich health
service, coast guard, steamboat in
spection service, ordnance and NUM-.
ton work, animal industry, imm1gra.
ton, machine trades, printing trades
painting and other mechanical occu-
pations in the government industrial
establishments.
The appeal to Congress is signed
by Luther G. Steward, president OF
the National Federation Of Fedora
Employees; H. w. Strickland. in
dustrial secretary Of the Railway Mai
Association; Gilbert A. Hyatt. presi.
dent of the National Federation Of
Post Office Clerks; e. J. Gainoy, pres.
ident National Association Of Letter
Carriers, and n. p. Alifas, president
of District No. A, International As.