Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-10
Makes Stand Known to En-
pIoyeS' Delegates at Con-
ference in Capital.
PROMISES AID IN EFFORT
TO BRING ABOUT PLAN
Council Opposes Appointments Out
side Civil Service-Law on
Leave-Granting Asked.

Secretary of Labor Doak, voice of
organized labor in the Presidents cabi-
net, today stands on record as favor
ing the five-day week for Government
employees. AS delegates to the executive
council meeting of the National Fed
Grafton of Federal Employees scattered
to their homes today, after a three
day session, they took with them mes
sage from Secretary Doak that he in
tends to do all in his power to further
steps to bring about the five-day week
in the Government service. A move in
this direction is the Dallinger measure
to legalize the Saturday half-holiday
throughout the Federal service, which
has passed the Senate and now is in
conference.
There is no question in my mind"
Secretary Doak told the members of
the council, who called on him yester-
day." that the five-day week is an abb
Jectlve which we should and will attain
IN the near future. have always been
strong advocate of it and I am more
firmly convinced than ever that it is
a progressive step on which no time
should be lost in putting into effect"
President Luther c. Steward of the
federation told Mr. Doak that the full
cooperation of the organization may
be assured toward putting into effect
policies looking to the welfare of work
ers generally and especially those in
the Federal employ.
FavOrs Indian Citizenship.
The council meeting wound I'D with
adoption of a resolution calling on the
Indian Bureau and members of Con-
gresS to resist every tendency to weaken
the civil service status of any portion
of the personnel of that branch of the
Government service The resolution
pointed out that the Federation is in
sympathy with the ultimate attainment
OF full citizenship by all Indians at
present Government wards. At the same
time the bureau and Congress would
be petitioned to strengthen and extend
the civil service in the Indian Bureau.
The council placed itself on record
as opposed to appointment to positions
in the Federal service without regard
to civil service rules as a general policy
and deplores the provisions set forth in
II. r. 1894, introduced by Representa-
tive Grail, which provides for employ
ment without regard to civil service. At
the same time it favors the terms of
the bill which would permit employ
ment of additional persons to bring the
work OF the Veterans Bureau and Pen
sion Bureau up to date"
Approve Sick Leave Bill.
n committee OF the cOullCu called
on Representative Addison T. Smith of
Idaho, sponsor of a bill to provide
standardized annual and sick leave for
the Government service, and told him
that Federal employees are vitality in
terested in having this bill enacted into
law at the present session Ito correct
the irregular practice which now pre-
walls throughout the Government serv-
ice" Granting of leave they pointed
out, now is discretionary with the heads
Of departments, whereas they told Mr.
Smith that if leave was covered by
law the injustice now prevailing in
some Government units would be
eliminated. Another committee called
on Representative F. r. Dallinger of
Massachusetts, to tell him that the fed
Grafton is heartily in favor of the Sat-
urday half holiday bill
Gertrude M. Mentally, secretary
treasurer of the federation, was di-
rected to write to Senator Brookhart
of Iowa and Representative La Guardia
of New York expressing the apprecia-
ton of the organization for their fine
work in behalf of the personnel of the
Government service"