Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-09-12
A,E,G,E F. REFLECTS
BABCOCK HEAD AS
CONVENTION ENDS
Defeats P. +. David of T. v.
A. Despite Attack With
Ramspeck Letter.
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
REFUSES TO SPEAK
Copies Are Circulated Among
Delegates by Miss Esther
Penn, Secretary.
BY J. A. FOX,
STAFF Correspondent of The Star


CINCINNATI, Ohio, September IL,
e. Claude Babcock of Washington
today was reelected president of the
American Federation of Government
Employees in the closing session of the
annual convention here.
He defeated Paul T. David of the
Tennessee Valley Authority, Knox
Vile. The vote was Babcock, 100;
David, 80. It was greeted with cheers.
Chairman Robert Ramspeck of the
House Civil Service Committee &C
cused Babcock of attempting to use
the committee for propaganda pur-
poses. In letter in which he rejected
an invitation to attend the convention
here, it was disclosed just before the
election. ..
Copies Given Delegates.
Copies of the letter were circulated
among the delegates by Miss Esther
Penn, secretary. Babcock refused to
comment on the letter, dated Sep
TENDER 5.
1t follows:
Your letter of August 30 inviting
me to attend the fourth national con-
vention of the American Federation OF
Government Employees has been re-
ceived, and it occurs to me that you
are very late in thinking of this mat
ter.
In view of the attitude which you
have assumed toward me and your eff
forts to use the committee for propa-
ganda purposes, of course would not
be interested in attending your con-
vention.
IT am quite sure that you purposely
delayed this invitation because you
knew it would not be accepted at such
q late date"
Second Letter Made Public.
Miss Penn said Ramspeck sent her
q copy of the communication. She
also made public letter from Rams
peck in which he took exception to a
statement in the Government Stand
ard, federation organ, concerning re-
puted action by the Civil Service
Committee on the Sirovich omnibus
civil service reform bill, asserting his
committee took no action on the
measure. Ramspeck said:
1T is a plain misrepresentation to
intimate that the committee had in
dorsed anything contained in the Siro-
Vich bill"
Ramspeck asked that his letter be
given to the convention.
After election of officers, the dele
gates planned to wind up their an
next year in Detroit.
Admonished BY Green.
AS the delegates elected their lead
ers for the next two years they
carried this admonition from Will
liam Green, president Of the
American Federation of Labor. DO
not let any differences which might
arise over policies and plans interfere
with your work"
This message was delivered before
the convention yesterday afternoon
by Green as he stopped over on his
way to Akron to organize the rubber
workers. 1t was his only reference
other than an urgent plea for unity
to the Federation's troubles.
3O-Hour Week Favored.
Green declared he favored a 30
hour week in the Government to set
an example for private industry, as
only by the shortening of working
hours could the unemployment prob
lem be met.
Our objective" he said, sis to
make the Government the ideal en-
ployer, to influence the Government
SO that it will set high economic
standards which employers in private
industry, must by force of public
opinion follow and obey"
Green was wildly applauded and
shortly after he left the platform the
Federation went on record in favor
Of the 30-hour work week as one of
the plans in its legislative program
coming up next year-a program
Green told the convention would have
the unqualified support of the A. F.
of L.
The convention only got around to
adopting the PLATFORM late IN the DAY
but made good progress.
Resolutions Adopted.
There were number of resolutions
. adopted on pay scales, including the
following: Automatic salary increases;
extension of classification to the field
and a minimum wage scale--$1 500
for employees paid on an annual basis
and SIS cents an hour for per diem
workers.
Other principles adopted by the
federation-some reiteration of former
stands-included the following: Pres
ervation of the merit system and ex-
tension of competitive civil service to
the emergency agencies by non-com-
petitive examination: 30-year optional
retirement, with the privilege to the
employe of naming joint annuitant;
revamping of the efficiency rating syS-
tenn; termination of the marital status
law; provision for dismissal wage
notice of dismissal; liberalization of
quarters, subsistence, laundry allow
ances, to make optional with employees
whether they would be accepted, and
opening Government facilities to CT