The Washington times., 1935-04-09
JUDGE NAMED.
FOR LETTER
CONTEST

Miss Stella Akin, special assist
ant to Attorney General Cum
mings, was announced today as
the first of the panel Of judges
who will pass on letters entered
a.: The Washington Times Mar.
rage Clause" contest.
Selection of Miss Akin was an.
nounced by Esther Penn, Secre-
tary of the American Federation
of Government Employees, who is
working in conjunction with The
Times and Stephen E. Cochran,
manager of the National Theater,
in conducting the competition.
At the same time, the first let
terS describing writer's opinions
Of Section 213 of the Economy |
Act, which permits Government |
units to discharge an employe
who has a husband or wife also
in the service, were received this
morning and checked as entrants
in the race for six dual season
asses and 10 double tickets to
the opening National Theater per-
Torrance, starting April %.
First Letter Backs Clause
The first letter to be received
was from Grace E. Pendleton
1000 block Brentwood Rd.. who
approved the measure, saying in
part:
"The only fault I can find
with Section 213 Is that all
women whose husbands are en-
plOyed in the Government Serv-
ice are not dismissed from the
service. l cannot understand
how anyone can be so selfish
as to feel that there is any un-
fairness when the wife is made
to give up her Government job
If the husband is also employed
in the Government. =.
"Let us hope that just few
more will be let out and make
room for some men who have
the job of taking care of some
old folks and some children.
GRACE E. PENDLETON."
LAW ASSAILED
Taking the opposite view, con-
demning the marriage clause"
with complete fervor, was a for
mer Federal employe whose name
is omitted by request and for pur-
poses of judgment will be known
as Number One" From her five
page missive are the following eX-
cerpts:
81 am a victim of said section.
After II years of faithful Serv.
ice in the Government, I was
handsomely rewarded with a
letter of dismissal from the
Department on June n,
1888. 1 had spent Is of those
years in one Office...
Il think this piece of legiSla-
ton is one of the most unjust
ever passed by our Congress, in
view Of the fact that it mostly
affects clerks whose combined
salaries were very small, both
Of them together being cOnsid-
cred only a living wage. as it
now stands it should either be
abrOgated or amended in order
to give those victims an OppOr-
tunity to lie reinstated to their
old positions.
81 heartily indorse the sug-
geStiOn that copies of letters in
the form of a memorial be sent
to each of the women members
of COngress.-NUMBER ONE"
Other opinions have been re.
ceived. Prospective contestants
are advised to write as early as
possible for consideration by the
panel being formed by Miss Penn.
The contest will close at midnight,
April II, eight days from today,
and the sole rule is that letters
must be postmarked before that
time.
Tickets Are Prizes
The best six letters chosen by
the panel will bring their authors
each two seats for the entire sea-
son of the National fheater Play
ers' spring season, and, through
the courtesy of Mr.. Cochran, man
ager of the National Theater, the
next best ten will be good for two
seats each at accent On YOUTH"
starring Nancy Sheridan and Roy
Roberts, which opens the season
April 20.
Anyone may submit as many
letters as desired, and style of the
misSives will not weigh so heavily
as the thought contained. whether
it is for or against section 213.
Authors may request that their
names be omitted from published
letters, in which case number
will be substituted for the sigma
ture to preserve anonymity. A
'pen name" also is suggested, if
wished. The 16 winning names
will be published in The Times,