Evening star., 1937-09-12
AT. c. {. TO OPEN
'RECORD' SESSION
Delegates Likely to Discuss
White Collar Workers.
Problems, Policies.
BY j. A, FOX.


PHILADELPHIA, September IL
With prospects for a record attend
snce, members were arriving tonight
forA the annual convention of the
American Federation of Government
Employees. At the opening session in
the. Benjamin Franklin Hotel Monday
morning 375 delegates and alternates
are expected to be present for a dis
cussion of the problems of white
collar employees of the Government,
and to formulate policies that will be
urged on Congress.
An affiliate of the American Fedora
ton of Labor, the federation will be
addressed early in the convention
probably Tuesday-by William Green.
A. r of L. president. Chairman Rams
peck of the House Civil Service Com
mission and Civil Service Commits
sioner Lucille Foster McMillin also
are scheduled to speak,
Election TO Be Thursday.
The biennial election will be held
Thursday, with the incumbent officers
expected to be reelected. These are
Charles I. Stengel, former New York
member of Congress, president: Mrs.
Bernice B. Heffner, secretary: Cecil
e. Custer. treasurer, and l3 vice presi-
dents The federation also expects to
add vice president for the fourth
civil service district, which includes
the District of Columbia. Marylali.
the Virginias and North Carolina.
There now are three for this area
sll from the District-and at the
annual convention last year it was
voted to name one from outside the
District Frank Walker of the Naval
Base, Norfolk, is slated to be chosen.
This convention of the federation is
due also to see the final chapter
written in the recurrent warfare
waged ny liberal" and conservative"
factions. as the organizsti ton closes its
books on the seven District lodges
which broke with the national Off
GERS several months ago over the ad-
Visibility of waging an intensive anti
Government economy campaign and
became the nucleus of the United
Federal Workers of America, affiliate
of the Committee for Industrial Or
ganization.
These liberal" lodges were sus-
pended for flouting national head
quarters and proceeding with the
drive, which was directed at ie-
trenchment moves in Congress. and
the question of expelling them would
have come before the present mee--
ing. Their withdrawal makes this
action superfuous, however. end the
Executive Council. which has been in
session here several days, has pre-
pared formal report for the conven-
ton, announcing the affair is ended.
Requirements Not Planned.
The trouble has ended the fedora
tion's efforts to organize emergency
employees, according to President
stengle, who said no effort would be
1AoNC w lCpidtc t1it loCUleT uIlltS OIL
Beltsville, Works Progress and Reset
tement In the other four establish
ments affected-General Accounting
Once, Labor, Agriculture and Inter-
state Commerce Commission - re-
placement lodges have been set up.
The legislative program the con-
vention will adopt will call generally
for improved working conditions in
the Government. 1t is also probable
1t will start q move to get non CLASH
fed employees in old-line agencies un-
der the retirement act, these being
barred from this bcause of their en-
ployment status and being excluded
from social security old-age benefits
because they are on the Government
pay roll.
approximately $500 per diem work
ers in the District government would
be benefited by such a set-up. which
would affect, among others, veterans
facilities attendants, custodial en-
ployes and some Post Office laborers,