Evening star., 1935-04-19
MARRIED WORKERS
BANSEEN|
EMERGENCY UNITS
H. o. L. c. Sends "ShoW-
Cause" Orders to En-.
pIoyes Affected.
MOVE SEEN REVERSAL
OF FORMER POLICY
Civil Service Group Told of Con.
ditions Under Ruling by D. C.
Woman's Bar Head.

The marital status law is threaten
ing to become a weapon in reductions
of force in the emergency agencies
where, hitherto. the attitude appar-
emily has been taken that it was net
applicable.
This was brought out today when
the House Civil Service Committee
resumed hearings on bill by Rep
resentative Celler, Democrat, of New
York, to eliminate the marital status
prohibition by amendment of civil
service law.
A statement by Mrs. Edwina Avery.
president of the Woman's Bar Asso-
citation of the District, that the Home
Owners Loan Corp. yesterday cut of
some young people who had just been
married." brought an explanation at
the corporation that there had been
no dismissals, but that seven men and
women whose husbands or wives also
are in Government service had been
notified to show cause" why both
should hold their jobs. Their repre-
Sentations would be given considera-
ton before any action was taken to
drop them, It was amplified.
Action Is Surprise.
The fact the H. o. L. c. was pro-
posing to use the marital status
dismissal clause came as surprise
at the hearing in view of the fact
a report on operation of this law,
compiled by the Labor Departments
Women'S Bureau and placed in the
record of the inquiry. listed emer-
gency agencies as the establish
ments which do not regard this clause
as applicable to their employees"
These emergency agencies recently
were instructed to hold jobs to a
"one to the family" basis, but this
principle was said not to be involved
in the H. o. l.. c. situation.
Not only would patronage en-
ployes be affected should the marital
status law now be invoked, but also
civil service employees who lost out
444 4C0AIb4OA4o AL tA1C Ol0 4LklC CobdD11Sll-
ments and then we're re-employed
in the new groups.
At the Civil Service Commission
the opinion was expressed that the
law is applicable to the emergency
agencies where reductions are neces-
sary, because Of its broad wording.
Recessed Until Tuesday.
Mrs. Avery's testimony was the high
spot in today's hearing, and when the
inquiry recessed until Tuesday at 10
am, it was requested that she return
to the stand.
She charged bluntly that the law
requiring dismissal of husband or wife
in necessary reduction of force, is en-
couraging illicit relationship among
young people here because they feel
they cannot assume family obligations
on one salary.
I'VE do know to be fact that young
people have put of marriage" she
told the committee. I'VE know that
right here in Washington-without
mentioning names-there are young
people living together without the
benefit of marriage because they can't
live on one salary
Miss Anna Pollitzer of the National
Woman's Party corroborated the
statements Of witnesses at the OPEN
ing of the hearing yesterday that
women are being affected (by the
law) to greater degree than men,"
Job or Husband.
She brought laugh from the crowd
in which women predominated when
she said 1T seems awfully unfair to
make women choose between a Job and
husband"
Mrs. Rebekah Greathouse, former
assistant United States attorney here.
appearing as witness for the National
Association of Women Lawyers, said
the law sis setting bad example to
private industry, and that perhaps is
why we are most opposed to it."
While she was testifying, Repre-
sentative Dunn, Democrat, Of Missis-
sippi, commented that the law de-
prived women of their constitutional
rights" provoking such vigorous ap-
plause that Chairman RamSpeck
asked that such outbursts-which have
been freuuent-be curbed.