The Washington times., 1936-02-08
CLERKS
PLAN FIGHT
FOR AID
Nv T. EARLE MOSER

In fact, while there has been
much talk, no defense measures
have been taken against this
trend thus far. The fight, how
ever, promises to emerge into the
open over the demand Of organ
lied New Deal workers that a
WPA project be set up for the
benefit of dismissed clerks who
have not been absorbed by other
agencies.
And it will develop over the
fact that the New Dealers will
not accept the average $40 SAL
ary If they do manage to have
o project set up, but will demand
classified salaries, one OF their
Spokesmen has declared.
The project the New Dealers
feel should be organized would
consist of a pool under the direc-
tion Of the Civil Service Com
mission, with classified salaries
paid by WPA funds. The pool
would supply workers to any de
partment or agency which had
some work to do, not enough peo-
pie to do it with, and insufficient
money to hire more. Such pool
would eliminate need for WPA
subsistence workers in depart
mentS here.
Aubrey Williams, assistant WPA
administrator, turned down repre-
sentatives of the NRA, AAA, Re
settlement and WPA lodges Of the
A. F. @. E. on the proposition yes
terday at a midday conference, al
though promising to attempt
STRENGTHENING Of the transfer
agency at WPA which the New
Dealers achieved via executive
order after q fight which lasted
most Of last summer. But they
told him they'd get the project.
and classified salaries with 1t, II
it is necessary to organize every
former emergency agency worker
now walking the streets.
StiIl Jammed
During the conference. John
Donovan, of NRA, pointed out
that Washington is still the mecca
for the joblesS despite recent
Supreme Court jolts at Govern
ment agencies. He said the AAA
personnel office is still crowded
with persons seeking berthS with
the agency that still doesn't know
whether it's alive or an unbur1ed
corpse.
.-.a-. An Author
incidentally, Mr.. Williams be-
comes an author in the latest edi-
ton of the American Federation
ist, monthly publication OF the
A. F. L. He writes to warn the
working masses that unemploy
ment is a permanent feature,
wasn't merely feature OF the de-
preston, but grew when the de-
preston hit.
Week Emo
Three dances and two lectures
are included on tonight's sched-
ule, all of interest to inhabitants
of Federaldom. The Welfare AS
sociation dance of the Procure
ment Division, Treasury, is sched'
uled for the Washington Hotel,
while the Carlton Hotel will be
the scene of the fourth annual
dance of Lodge 80, A. F. G. E.
for the staff Of Employees Com
penSation Commission. At Gov
ernment Printing Office workers
will attend a dance in Harding
Hall, for the purpose Of raising
money to support G. P. O.'s oft
champion baseball team. DR.. 10
seph Dixon and A. E. Borrell
National Park Service experts.
will address the Biological So
ciety of Washington at the Cos
mos Club.
Sample Career
Opportunities that exist in the
Government service are illus
trated by the career of Malcolm
Kerlin, administrative assistant
to Secretary of Commerce Roper
who reached the 30-year service
mark today. Mr.. Kerlin entered
the Post office in 1906 and
started upward Immediately, be
coming assistant chief clerk seven
years later. The next year he
became superintendent of regis
tered mails, then assistant post
master by 1917 and three years
later, after a period with the
Bureau of Efficiency, he became
director of postal savings, back
at the Post Office. He Joined
the Commerce staff after 1922 al
his present rank.
Commerce people consider Mr.
Kerlin as one of the foremost
authorities on administra yiv. di
rection of a Federal department
by virtue Of his wide experience.
Odds and Ends
Mrs. Edwina Avery, chairman
A.. HosIvN