Evening star., 1932-08-27
New U. S. Employees Fedora
ton, Working for Better
Pay, Widens Program.
GAINS IN MEMBERSHIP
REPORTED IN CAPITAL
Best 0btainable School System,
Police and Fire Departments
Advocated in Statement.

The District of Columbia Department
of the American Federation of Govern
ment Employees stand for national rep
resentation and fair taxation, Michael
D. Schaefer, the president, declared to-
day in statement.
Discussing the aims of the new Or
ganization. which is an affiliate Of the
American Federation of Labor, Schaefer
declared it 'is prepared to enter the
lists in behalf of Federal workers. so as
to regain for them all the benefits and
privileges they have lost through the
enactment of the so-called economy
act, as well as to obtain those mani
fold improvements in conditions sur
rounding their work which are so sore
ly needed"
The statement follows in part:
In the organization of the Ameri-
can Federation of Government En-
ployes. Federal workers are given every
assurance that powerful influence will
be exerted in their behalf. They have
learned from bitter experience that in
organization alone lies their salvation.
Experience likewise has revealed in
unmistakable terms that their efforts
will have but little avail unless they
stand shoulder to shoulder with the
great mass of American wage earnerS
who comprise the militant and forward
looking body of organized labor.
Grave Crisis Seen.
Federal employees are confronted
with grave crisis. They have seen
swept away the advances they made
during the last Is years. BY rallying
to the American Federation of Govern
ment Employees and supporting its leg
islative program they have it within
their power to accomplish their OBJ
jectives.
First on the American Federation'S
legislative program is the restoration Of
pay and privileges of which Govern
| ment Employees were deprived by the
predatory terms of the economy act.
Second is the need for immediate for
mutation of a fair and equitable clas-
siflcation not only for the District Of
Columbia, but for the field services
also. A 30-year optional retirement law
is the third major objective placed on
the Federation's program at the outset.
With this program the members who
compose the % lodges now constituting
the District Department of the Ameri-
can Federation of Government En-
ployes are in hearty accord. They are
bending every ounce Of energy within
them to the task of building up
powerful and well organized group to
| fight for their interests. Each day
brings additional hundreds within the
federation. At least six lodges are in
the process of formation in Washing
! ton and many more in the field.
Works for d. C. Benefits.
For those lodges that compose the
| District Department the tasks which
| lie ahead are manifold. The organi-
zation, as see it, has dual purpose
in the National Capital. 1t must en-
deavor to attain its primary detectives;
namely, legislative and administrative
| advantages for Federal workers. But
because its territory is conineident with
that of the Federal city, the District
department will be interested likewise
in all measures that promise benefits to
those 1000 men and women who work
for Uncle Sam and reside within the
shadow Of the Capitol.
1T is not enough for Federal en-
/ ployeS to be compensated adequately for
faithful and efficient service. They must
be housed well. Their children must be
assured the advantages of the best edu-
cation obtainable.
Those who live within the city's bor-
| derS should be accorded a voice in its
administration through representation
| in the halls of Congress. Taxation
should be equitable, but not burden
some; and the portion of the cost of
maintaining our municipal institutions
should not fall too heavily upon those
who are the servants of the people.
For Best School System.
Foremost among the objectives for
which the District Department of the
American Federation shall stand is a
well maintained and thoroughly modern
public school system.
The development of our municipal
protective agencies, the Police and Fire
Departments, the advancement of our
Health Department, and the better
ment of every form of public service
shall always be among our objectives.
The advancement of transportation IA
cilities likewise is an important item on
the municipal program affecting Fed
eral employees"