The Washington times., 1936-12-11

the editorial room by 5:15 p. m. Also,
news of office happenings may win
weekly prize II phOned to Dt. 1000
branch 21O, before 8 p. m.
Guards at the District Of Column
bal Jail, supposedly employed un,
der the Civil Service system, are
registering vehement protests over
working conditions which they de,
clare are intolerable.
Overwork and Substandard pay
compose the basic factors OF the
protest, both complicated by a
number of connected complaints
caused by insufficient personnel
and equally insufficient equip
ment. Most of the trouble, they
declare, is caused by the fact that
the D. C. Jail is administered by
the Board of Public Welfare rather
than the Federal Bureau OF
Prisons.
The Civil Service Commission
recently issued an announcement
of test for Junior custodial Off
GERS" a newly concocted "ritz"
name for prison guards, and the
base pay was announced as 1850.
Despite this, D. c. guards revealed
today, a few of their staff of 80
receive $1,000; 10 are paid $1,000,
and some exist on but $3.50.
Working conditions dr. win g
complaint include the fact that
every guard must stand by and as
Sist at executions, none being al
lowed to miss such a distasteful
event. Twelve hour days are the
usual, it is said, and there is no
place to buy food. If a "custodial
officer" desires hot lunch he may
bring in a steak, or something,
from outside and the prisoners
cook will fry it up for him-if he
has time. Otherwise cold sand.
wiches and cold pie must suffice,
A delegation yesterday visited
Col. Charles Stengle, president OF
the American Federation of Gov.
eminent Employees, and told their
woes in full. After assuring them
he will seek legislative correction
Of affairs before Congress, Stengle
announced he also will ask aid OF
the D. C. Federation of Citizens
Associations. Today he dispatched
the following letter to Thomas E.
Lodge, president of that organiza.
ton:
Permit me to call your at
tentiOn to the deplOrable cOndi-
tiOns surrounding the work of
employees in the d. C. Jail. For
the past two or three years I
have appeared before the Ap-
preparations Committee in both
the House and Senate urging
the appointment of additional
guards in order to relieve the
terrific strain on the few that
they now have. There are other
conditions in that institution
that are no credit to the Dis
trict of Columbia and should be
overcome at the coming session
of Congress.
~ most urgently petition you
I'm behalf Of these employees that
you Immediately appoint a com.
mittee Of citizens to visit the
Jail, confer with the employees
there as well as with the super
intendent, and see for yourself
that the Federation of Citizens
Associations owe it as a civic
duty to help us overcome
situation that is a disgrace to
civilization. hope you will ap-
point a committee with which
will cooperate to the utmost to
alleviate the conditions above
mentioned"
OF considerable interest to car
owning Federal folk is the an.
nouncement yesterday by Ma.
tional Park Service that Skyline
Drive, in Shenandoah National
Park, will remain open to traffic
all winter. Director Arno Cam
merer said:
ct may be necessary in case
Of heavy SnOwfalls and ice to
close the drive from time to
time in order to clear the road,
but the National Park Service
will make every effort to keep
the thOrOughfare open so that
the thousands of motorists who
already have begun to make
the Skyline Drive one of their
favorite weekend trips may
enjoy the beauty of the Blue
Ridge in its ermine coat"
Two new examinations have been
announced at Civil Service.
st. Elizabeths Hospital needs
Junior medical officers, inferno
and psychiatric resident, at $4,000,
and a test is to be given for senior
medical officer, female psychiatric,
at $4,000. A test for wild life man
agement biologist, $4,000, also will
be given for vacancy at Soil Con-
Servation Service.
In the Eastern section receipt
Of applications will close January
4, 1887.