The Washington times., 1935-06-12
WORKS UNDS
To AID j. 8.
employees
BY ]. EARLE MOSER

BY J. EARLE MoSER
Officials of the various Govern
ment departments and emergency
agencies will be given a chance to
alleviate considerable suffering
among temporary employees as al
lotments from work-relief program
funds come through. by the grant
ing Of appointments of at least
q year, where possible.
At present, temporaries whose
appointments run to less than IL
months get no leave, a condition
that resulted in the death last
winter of a young girl in one of
the independent offices, who felt
that she couldn't afford to lose
pay for treatment Of severe cold
and died within three days of
septic sore throat.
In addition, yearly appoint
ments provide greater ease of
mind to personnel, officials admit.
Although vacation days are at
hand, the future of the RamSpeck
sick and annual leave bills re-
mains indefinite because of the
press of business on Capitol Hill,
Representative Robert w. Rams
peck CD, of Georgia, author OF
the bills and chairman Of the
House Civil Service Committee,
has been too busy to collect his
committee in order to report the
bills out, his office said today. In
addition to the Civil Service group,
Mr.. Ramspeck is serving on the
Merchant Marine, Claims, and La
Dor Committees.
The Rent and Housing Commit
tee of the Department Of Agricul-
ture will take definite steps in a
meeting Friday night in the de-
partment to organize community
home movement for Government
employees near Washington, &C
cording to Chairman Frank Lom-
bard.
Mr.. Lombard said today that
questionnaires will be distributed
to leading financial concerns to
give estimates of the cost of such
a community and to ascertain if
outside capital is interested in
backing the move. It is planned
to organize the project in such a
manner that an employe could OBJ
tain a medium-sized home for $500
cash payment, carrying it for $40
plonthly for 20 years.
The committee, which repre-
sents about $50 Agriculture work
ers who have expressed interest in
the idea, plans to have an agree
ment whereby 60 the company H.
nancing the project would admit
only purchasers approved by the
committee itself, Expected to
comprise about 10 acres, the
planned home community would
later set aside about 20 for stores
and a recreational center.
Should outside capital prove un-
interested in the idea, Mr.. Lom-
bard said, the workers will attempt
to finance it themselves.
Speaking over the radio this
morning, E. Claude Babcock,
president of the Age, warned
that another economy drive is in
the making and will probably
break in the next session of Con.
gress. Asking that Federal EN-.
ployeS combine to combat and de-
feat such a move before it gains
too much momentum, he said in
part:
"An assault on the standards
of Government workers serves a
double purpose-it cuts the Gov
ernment'S expenses and cOnSe-
quentIy the tax rates of the
'ecOnOmizerS,' and, much more
important, it tends to cripple
group that constitutes in very
real sense the Vanguard of the
working class, and i some re-
SpectS one of its most militant
divisions. Once Government
standards are shattered, wage
cuts, heightened hours, and
lowered working conditions
spread space in private indus
try"
The executive council of the
District Federation Of Federal
Employees, a NFFE group, will
meet this evening at o'clock at
ITO Fourteenth st. N. W., and to-
morrow at the same place the
membership committee of Local
No. 2 will convene to discuss the
drive, which ends June 80. Grand
prize is q free trip to Yellowstone
National Park, scene of the NFFE
biennial convention in September.
President Archie Edwards of the
agricultural branch of Local No.
q, NFFE, will give a picnic for
members of the branch Saturday
afternoon at his home, 1888 M
st. S. E. Among entertainments
will be horseshoe pitching, hiking,
and softhall, and Mr.. Edwards has
planned to provide coffee and
punch.