Evening star., 1937-02-14
GREEN OUTLINES
APPOINT PROGRAM
F0RU.S. WORKERS
A. F. of L. Prepared to Cam
paign for Plan, Leader
Says.
RAMSPECK SPEAKS
TO FEDERAL GROUP
Record Legislation on Civil Serv.
ice at This Session Is
Suggested.

The American Federation of Labor
Is prepared to campaign for a four
point program in the interest Of
Federal workers, William Green,
president, told the American Fedora
ton Of Government Employees last
night.
Addressing a dinner which the
District department of the federation
held at the Hamilton Hotel in honor
of the Executive Council. now in
session here, and attended by a num-
Der. of officials, Green listed the fed
Grafton objectives as: Shorter work
week. higher wages, more tolerable''
conditions of employment and better
civil service regulation.
''Tt is our purpose to appeal to
Congress for enactment of legislation
to advance and promote the economic
and social interests of those in Gov
eminent service" Green emphasized.
I'VE want to make our Govern
ment the ideal employer of labor in
the United States"
Discusses Custer.
Earlier in the day Green had inter-
ested himself in the case of five Dis
trict lodges ousted by the A. F. G. E.
last September in the radical purge
with the result that representatives
who are seeking return of charters
will get hearing by the council to-
day.
A committee from the five-Social
Security, Railroad Retirement, Sc
curtties. and Exchange. Farm Credit
and Public Assistance Division of the
Distrlct-saw the A. F. of L. head
yesterday afternoon after the execu-
tive council had rejected a re-
instatement plea. and it was an
nounced afterward that the hearing
had been arranged for 2 pm today
A prediction that the present Con-
eress will establish a record for Civil
Service legislation was made by
Chairman Ramspeck Of the House
Civil Service Commission, another
dinner speaker.
Ranspeck, whose committee is hold
Ing hearings on bill to bring all nom
civil service groups under the merit
system, declared there are plans un-
der consideration, not only on Capitol
Hill. but in the executive branch of
the Government, that will give to the
United States the finest personnel
system in the world"
He stressed the interest President
Roosevelt has in this, declaring it 1.-The
desire and purpose" of the President
to bring it about.
Ramspeck said the form the civil
service extension legislation eventu-
ally will take is uncertain, but that
from grapevine sources" he under
stands the measure to be sponsored
by the Joint Committee on Reorgani-
Eation would bring in all positions
except cabinet portfolios, with the
proviso that such exemptions as the
President desired could be made py
executive order.
A. F. Of L. Praised.
Chairman Bulow of the Senate Civil
Service Committee praised the Amer
lean Federation of Labor for giving
the working class an audible voice.
and brought appreciative applause
from his audience with the suggestion
that the proposed "blanketing- in" Of
Federal employees be extended to mem
bers OF Senate and House.
Further. I'm against any 70-year
age limit, and think that the House
members ought to have to come in by
competitive examination" Bulow said.
Other members of Congress who
spoke were Representatives Jenckes
and Griswold of Indiana and Vinson
OF Kentucky, all Democrats.
Harry B. Mitchell, president of the
Civil Service Committee, deplored in
dustrial strife, and said he had found
In his own experience in private life
in dealing with labor difficulties that
"employes are more reasonable than
employers" Commissioners Lucille
Foster Mcmillan and Leonard D.
White spoke briefly.
The guests. were welcomed by
Charles I. Stengle, national president
Of the federation. James G. Yaden,
District president. was toastrnaster.