Evening star., 1933-09-13
FEDERAL WORKERS
URGED TO END WAR.
Civil Service Commission
Head Pleads Factions to
Get Together.
Continued From First Page.)

who should be working together be
fighting each other?"
Discusses Cancellation.
This question of unity has been be-
fore the convention since it started
Monday, following the action of the
National Federation of Federal En-
ployes last week in voting against re-
affiliation with the American Federation
OF Labor, of which the Federation OF
Government Employees is an affiliate.
President Mitchell also discussed the
formation of the new Cancellation Com
mittee in the Civil Service Commission
to handle employees complaints, ana
said that it vas hoped to extend IL 70
all the executive departments. ana
that a step in this direction would be
made tomorrow at the Treasury, where
another organization is to be started.
He said Acting Secretary OF the
Treasury AcheSon is very anxious 10
see start in this direction. Mltcheu
explained that these Cancellation Com
mittees, made up both of employees ana
departmental representatives. Wouio
have no authority to enforce ther rul-
ings, but that they would serve to give
q try-out to the proposal for court
of appeals" lor Government workers,
and that if they demonstrated their
workability it would give the commls-
sion something to back up their recon-
mendation to Congress for legislation TO
create the court with the necessary
powers. Mr.. Mitchell also explained
that President Roosevelt was faVoraole
to extension of the system throughout
the department.
Ratings to Be Studied.
The civil service head said also the
commission had instructed the per-
sonnel research division to take up the
study of efficiency ratings and see II II
were not possible to devise some new
system that would result in more JUS
tice to the workers. He SAID that
while he realized that In some IN
stances complaints of injustices were
unfounded undoubtedly there was some
ground for them.
He added that the recent occurrence
In the Interior Department, Where Sec
retary Ickes restored to duty "A workers
who had been dropped when they COM
planned about their efficiency ratings
and later administered disciplinary
measures to those responsible. showed
there was some need for a change.
Mitchell also declared he is firmly
convinced the President of the United
States will do all in his power to build
up the Civil Service. In this connec-
tfon he pointed to executive orders for
putting cotton statistics collectors ana
the members OF the Farm Credit Ad-
ministration under Civil Service. At
the same time, he referred to criti-
cisms of unblanketing orders Wnlch
removed some Labor Department en-
ployes from Civil Service and did the
same with the entire Bureau OF For
eipn and Domestic Commerce of the
Department of Commerce, but defended
both moves.
Intend to Build Merit System.
"These people were put into Civil
Service. not through examination: not
through merit, but because OF politics,
Mitchell asserted. The orders removing
them, he continued. were in conformity
with the principles underlying civil
Service
In conclusion, Mitchell declared the
commission stood for efficiency in the
department, but that they wanted the
employees to feel they are their friends
and intend to build up the merit system
for the benefit of the workers and the
public.
We want the employees to feel if they
do a good Job for the Government they
may be assured of justice from the
Government"
Resolutions Adopted.
After President Mitchells speech, the
convention adopted resolutions covering
the following principles to be sought:
Restoration of pay, 30-hour week. auto
matte pay increases, overtime pay, equal
nav for the same character Of work.
Extension of classificationS OF the
field service classification according
to duties performed, better opportunl-
ties for promotion.
Optional retirement after 30 years
service, the right to increase payments
to the retirement fund in order to get
greater annuity. dismissal wage lor
those employees not entitled 10 retlre-
ment.
A centralized personnel administra-
ton which would include transfer OF
the fiscal machinery of the retirement
law from the Veterans Administration
to the Civil Service Commission; or
eanized employe representation on all
personnel bodies.
Extension of the merit system and
improvements in the efficiency rating
system.
Thirty days annual leave, cumu-
lative. On sick leaves the convention
is acting this afternoon. when it also
was intended to adopt resolution call
ing for repeal of the marital status law.
The federation voted against pro-
posal for free disqualification for Gov
ernment employees.
Another resolution adopted called for
transfer of the staff of Congressional
Library to the competitive civil service.
Recovery Program Praised.
At the annual banquet last night at
the Hamilton. the delegates heard
Frank Morrison, veteran secretary OF the
American Federation OF Labor. praise
the recovery program OF the admins
tration, which he said had been respon-
sible for putting back to work 2,ooo,ooo
persons since March.
There are still ii 900 900 idle. but
you can't expect in this short time to
have all back to work as though by
magic" he emphasized.
Eventually however. he added. the
new deal means returning to industry
every man and woman who wants TO
work"
David R. Glass. first vice president,
another speaker, asserted that the fed
Grafton membership was growing despite
the depression.
Cecil Mears and E. II. Bailey, VINO
went to Kansas City last week to press
the cause of the A. F. G. E. to members
of the rival National Federation OF
Federal Employees, were introduced at
the dinner and praised for their labors.
Cecil E. Custer. executive secretary.
was given a desk set by the executive
council. the presentation being made by
John p. Simpson, president OF Inter-
state Commerce Lodge.
Michael D. Schaefer, president Of the
District department, was toastmaster,
and the invocation was said by Right