Evening star., 1934-01-09
Complaints Are Being Probed
by D. c. Commissioners.
Fifty on File.
CONFERENCE WITH RUML
is ARRANGED BY ALLEN
Applications of Complainants to
Be Investigated for Reason
No Work Was Given.

Complaints that many longtime resi-
tain employment under the Civil Works
Administration, while hundreds of new
comers have been put to work, are being
investigated by the District Commits
Sloners it was learned today.
With approximately so such COM
plants on file and more coming in
nearly every day, the Office o. Commits
sioner George E. Allen has. it was aScer-
tanned, arranged for a conference with
David Ruml, head of the District Pub
iic Employment Center, through which
all local C. w. A. workers are hired.
Commissioner Allen. it was learned,
has delegated a member of his staff to
take the names and addresses of the
complainants, many of whom are said
to be World War veterans, to Ruml S
office for a check-up.
Applications Long on File.
Ruml, it was said, has agreed to go
over the applications of the complain
ants. with a view to ascertaining why
kiley nave IOJ Detll given JODS.
Applications of some of the COM
plainants, it was understood, have been
on file in Ruml's office since the day
the c. w. A. hiring began.
In official circles it is freely admitted
that many non-residents have been put
to work under the c. w. A. here for
the reason that thorough investigation
Of all applicants is impossible under the
existing Set-up.
The C. w. A.. it is pointed out, is
purely an emergency organization, es-
tabliShed for the sole purpose of giving
employment to as many persons as pos
1ble as quickly as possible.
Many Live in Rooming Houses.
The only residence requirement is that
applican nts be residents of the commu-
nifty in which they seek work for at
least six months. With no money pro-
vided for investigation of applicants,
however. it is virtually impossible to
check up on residence claims.
Also, 1t is pointed out, many of the
applicants live in rooming houses, and
as often as not their landlords or land
ladies' would rather back I'D their resi-
dcnce claims than run the risks OF
losing paying tenant.
The District Commissioners today or
deTed the reinstatement of Sam Brown
and Robert Powell, both colored. to
their civil works jobs, from which they
were discharged last week after Dis
trict C. w. A. officials had charged that
they had refused to work and were in
subordinate.
The action was taken after a hearing
granted the two men today by the Com
missioners in executive session. They
will receive pay for the time they would
have worked during the past week
Statement Is Issued.
Brown and Powell denied they had
refused to work and claimed they were
discharged because they distributed
handbills urging union organization of
c. w. A workers.
The Commissioners later issued this
statement:
The chief purpose of the c. w A.
work is to provide employment and
self-respecting relief to deserving men
and women. Employees under this work
who refuse to render service equal to
the most moderate requirement are on
the face of this fact underserving.
In these particular cases. the c. w.
A. authority is willing at this time to
pass over what they hope was a tenn
porary delinquency in refusing to work
with the most moderate diligence and
for which these men we're very prop
erly discharged, and to authorize the
Unemployment of these men and their
continued employment SO long as they
render reasonable, earnest service while
SO employed If failure to so render
service again occurs discharge will be
made final