The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-03-01
VETS QUIT
B0OKSFOR
FILING
Disabled Students Protest
Being Forced to Do Burns
Bureau Work.

Disabled veterans taking vo-
cational courses in bookkeeping
and accOuntancy in the local
business colleges, have been mobi-
lized by w. ]. Burns, head of the
Department Of Justice, and put
to work filing the records at the
recently established National
Bureau Of Criminal Identification.
The bureau was transferred from
Leavenworth prison, as the
nucleus of what is designed to
be a central bureau of identifica-
ton.
Students Object.
Employment of the men with
drawn from their studies in spe-
cial courses and put to work as
filing clerks In the bureau Of iden-
tifcation, Is objected to by many of
them who wish to continue their
courses.
incidentally, it is stated, no ap-
preparation has been made to COM
pensate them for the work they are
forced to perform. The govern
ment pays them 800 a month as
students compensation. This COM
pensation is supposed to be used by
them for maintenance while in
school.
Under what provisions governing
in the Veterans Bureau manage
ment Of vocational training they
have been forced to abandon their
studies is not explained.
Men Seek Retransfer,
Several of the men, it lie learned,
have tried Intellectually to get a re.
transfer back to the business col.
leges. A number Of the men whose
studies have been interrupted in
this way have but short periods in
which to complete them, and they
declare an injustice is being done
them.
The action Of Burns and the Vet.
eran Bureaus staff in charge OF
vocational training has been taken
up at the White House. While as
sured by c. Bascom Slemp, secre.
tary to President Coolidge, that the
situation would be investigated, the
men say no word from the White
House has been received indicating
any action will be taken.
I'VE would like to know who is
paying for this work." said one Of
the men today.
"Some Of the men taken oyer
are being employed as typists. But
most of them are filing records.
We are told we can attend night
school. Many of US are unfit ply
sically to attempt such a thing.
The money paid us by the Gov
eminent is to defray our expenses
while covering our vocational
courses, and 1 do not see how
1t can be made to apply as salary
for work done in the Identification
bureau"
Considerable criticism is made by
the men of the methods employed
when advised Of the order to report
at the Identification bureau. They
declare that when complaint was
made to vocational officers they
were coerced.
Burns Criticised.
While the bureau of criminal iden-
tification was maintained at Leaven.
worth prison the work of the bu-
reau was performed by thirty con-
victs. When the bureau was trans.
ferred no provision, 1t is said, was
made to pay a staff of filing clerks.
Hampered in this way it has re-
manned little less than useless since
being established here.
w. ]. Burns comes in for no little
criticism. 1t being insisted that the
disruption Of the bookkeeping and
accountancy classes resulted from
his appeal to the veterans bureau.
Burns today disclaimed all re.
sponsibility for the transfer.
cts news to me If the men are
objecting to the work assigned them
at the bureau Of Identification"
said Burns. II understood they
went there on their own volition;
they were men who would in
short time be looking for employ.
ment. No complaints from them
have reached me-"