Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-01-15
Senator Calls for Inquiry
After Workers Protest Con-
ditions in Basement.
CLERKS FEAR HEALTH
WILL BE ENDANGERED
Dampnes~, Ventilation and Light
ing Regarded as Menace to
Lives and Efficiency.

1harges of dampness and poor venti-
lation of the basement working quar-
tiers in which 40 men and women clerks
of the Patent Office have been assigned
in the Commerce Departments new
building today drew a request from
Chairman Hebert of the Senate Com
mittee on Patents for an investigation
by departmental officials.
Al the same time Secretary Lamont
received letters Of protest from Senators
Tydines of Maryland, Walsh of MaSsa-
chusetts ana Glass of Virginia. They
objected to the placing of these clerks
IL feet underground, and it was pointed
out by them that many of the women
clerks were past middle age and that
such quarters would be injurious to
their health.
Room Has Eight Windows.
All of the clerks, 80 white and 10
colored will occupy one room In the
basement. directly beneath the beauti-
fully decorated and spacious Search
room in the Patent Office section OF
the building. The room has eight WIN
dows on the Fourteenth street side OF
the structure. but they open into
concrete walled areaway extending
down from the street level.
The clerks are members of the pub
LEGATION division of the Patent ONCE
and have supervision over approx
mately l73,000,000 copies OF patents,
which the Government sells for 10
cents per copy. About 100000 copies
are sold daily. The filing room for
these copies also is located in the base
ment where many boys are to be en-
ployed.
The means of ventilating the huge
fx hu plpPtriHal hlOWPrS one
of which is to be located in room
adjoining that of the 40 clerks.
Interested in Efficiency.
Senator Hebert said today that his
committees jurisdiction in the matter
extended only to whether or not the
efficiency of the personnel OF this
division would be cut down as the re-
suit of working in such quarters.
In a petition signed by the majority
of the clerks, the committee was in
formed, in part, as follows:
There is no doubt but that the I'M
healthy location will work injury to
MANY of the elderly people in this
division, with the result that many
clerks will be necessarily absent on sick
leave, which will contribute TO the i'm
pairment of the smooth running and
efficiency of this division.
Also the great number OF electric
lights necessary for this room will un-
doubtedly cause injury to those who
are required to sit under this artificial
light all day, and the result is bound
TO manifest itself in the quality of the
work produced"
Motors Noise Scored.
1.-THE noise from the motor, which is
located in the end of the room, is bound
to cause harm to the nervous system OF
all these people to be located in this
room, and the result is bound to be
shown in their work.
THE depressed feeling which this
room provokes has already been shown
in the attitude of the clerks, who have
seen the conditions under which they
will be forced to work, and we believe
that this spirit of depression is bount
to increase after they are actually at
work in this room, and consequently the
morale of the clerks will be greatly les
sened and the efficiency greatly i'm
paired"
This division is expected to be moved
into the new building tomorrow night.
Commissioner Thomas E. Robinson of
the Patent ONCE said today he had not
replied to Senator Hebert's letter and
had taken no action for the time bsing.
HE SAID ne naO CODVtTSeQ WIFI IntlHDeIS
of Senator Hebert's office staff.
Believes Quarters Ideal.
The commissioner described the room
as a beautiful one, 100 feet long and
IA feet high, with 6-foot- high windows"
II would rather work in this room
than in many Offices on the first fiooc
of the Patent ONCE section of the
building" the commissioner asserted.
Because of the length of the big search
room, many Offices on the first floor will
have to be lighted artiflcially."