The Washington times., 1937-01-11
'QSL' ATTACKED
BY HOSPITAL
F0LKHERE
By ]. EARLE MOSER

Government organizations should con-
tact the writer in the editorial room by
S:1S p. M, or phone Dl. 1000 branch 2lO.
Considerable attention has been
given by employe organizations to
the working conditions OF attend
ants in hospitals of the Veterans
Administration, particularly in re-
gard to the hardships imposed by
the regulations that such employees
must have deductions for quarters,
laundry and subsistence made
from their bi-monthly pay checks.
From complaints of personnel,
however, it would appear that the
plight of those stationed at Mount
Alto Hospital, near the shadow OF
the Monument. is just a trifle
worse than in hospitals Of the field
service.
According to one aggrieved at
tendant at Mt. Alto, Glass 'B' at
tendantS-those who have been
employed a year or less as begin
ners-must work 81 hours per
week. They do not at any time. 1t
Is complained, receive a full day
off, six hours being the most
leisure they receive in any one
week. This is in contrast to day
and a half given to those in flelo
facilities of Veterans Admlnlstra'
ton.
PAY conditions are equally poor,
1t is said. Twenty-Five dollars is
charged per month for food,
whether it is used or not, plus
from SIS to $40 per month for
sleeping accommodation and $3.50
monthly for laundry-even If un-
wanted The net result is that an
employe receiving the princely
stipend of $1,000 yearly receives
each pay day net compensation
Of $31.25.
Hospital attendants at one time
were under Civil Service but were
removed by executive order. A re-
versal Of this order is to be
sought Of Congress by clerk or
ganizations in addition to a re-
quest for liberalization of "QSL"
charges. Also, in line with the cur
rent drive for increased pay, it is
felt they deserve considerably
higher compensation - especially
in view of the rigorous work they
must handle.
, Interior Secretary Ickes, Mrs.
Eugene Meyer, Luther C. Steward,
Of the National Federation of Fed
eral Employees, and Prof. Thurman
Stoner, Of the University Of Buf-
falo, are to take part in a radio
debate Thursday which is entitled
"Shall All Federal Employees Be
Under the Civil Service?" The de.
bate will compose the program OF
the Town Meeting of the Air, and
is sponsored by the National Civil
Service Reform League and the
League for Political Education, in
cooperation with the National
Broadcasting Company.
Five Bureau of Engraving and
Printing folk were retired during
December, Assistant Director Long
has announced.
The list included Allen P. Myers
and Frank P. Reithmeyer, plate
printers; Mrs. Wilhelmina Nc
Govern, a coiling machine opera
tor; Vesta E. Hottenstein, stock
clerk, and George T. Wells,
principal steam man" Mr. Myers
led the group in total service with
43 years to his credit.
According to Martha McCabe,
assistant librarian in the Interior
Departments Office of Education,
the agency has amassed a veritable
treasure in early American school
textbooks. The collection, Miss
McCabe declared recently, boasts
more than 10000 books, including
such rare pieces as Mr.. Wingate's
Arithmetic" published in London
in 1894.
The Society for Philosophical In.
quiry will meet tomorrow at 4:45
p. m. in Room 43 of the Natural
History Building, with Major E. L.
Dyer scheduled to speak on "Evi-
dence for Another Existence"
The society, organized in 1893,
discusses philosophical matters,
and occasionally material science,
religion, theology, sociology and
politics. It is open to anyone in
tereSted in such subjects, the an
nual dues being 50 yearly. Its Off
GERS are the Rev. DR.. Edward E.
Richardson, president; DR.. Will
liam T. Shepherd, vice president;
Major E. L. DER, treasurer, and
Kepler Hoyt, secretary.
]. Sterling Moran, newly elected
vice president of the AAA Lodge
No. 116 of the A. F. G. E., was born
on a farm in Loudoun county of
Virginia and was farm boy" un-
til Is, meanwhile attending school.
In 1895 he became a bricklayer,
working at that trade until 1908,
and between times taught in the
common schools of his home
county.
During the war, however, he
really became busy, joining the Y.
M. c. A. to aid in its many phases
OF welfare work. During his tenure
he supplied motion pictures in 800
buildings to 100000 soldiers en-
camped in the South, at one time
furnishing $40 different movie pro.
grams in one week.
During the 1880 census he was
given supervision of about 500
employees coding occupations on
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