The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-06-24
Against Govt. Economy

annoyances which make the prospect of a c. I. O. raid on the A. P. G. E. seem a relatively insignificant prob lem. Yet, If the office girls and sec- retaries in the executive branch are going to sign up with Lewis, the day may come when Green won't be able to call on a cabinet member with any assurance that he won't be made to cool his heels unnecessar- fly.
 Perhaps the most interesting
 point of the proposal of some gov
 ernment employees to get into the
 c. I. O., however, is the fact that
 this group has been conspicuous
 in a campaign against government
 economy. The A. F. G. E. sus- pended seven of it's lodges because
 they staged mass meeting against what they called foolish
 false economy" Officials of the
 lodges have asked Lewis to help
 them in their campaign.
 Lewis, apparently after consid- erable cogitation, acted. He Se- lected Jacob Baker, former assist ant administrator of WPA and chairman of group sent to in- quire into European cooperative industries, to organize govern ment workers into new branch of the c. I. O.. It will be called the United Federal Workers of America.
 This brought fresh worries to many viewers -with-alarm who can easily conjure up visions of a militant labor movement de- manding more pay, 8 closed shop and no dismissals on behalf of its members in government service.
 The anti-economy drive, which is in the form of plea that gov- ernment savings not be taken out of the hides of employees, arises from the not unnatural desire of government clerks to hang onto their jobs. Most outsiders agree that there are more federal en- ployes here than the government needs.
 The Hysterical Drive
 A letter circulated among mem- bers of the suspended lodges says in part:
 Foolish False Economy in 1883 fired efficient government employees to save money, and then wasted more than had been saved by em- ploying other untrained workers to replace discharged efficient work CTS. Foolish False Economy re- duced salaries, eliminated leaves, enacted Section 213 and yet, after the hySterical drive was over, the government was spending more money than when the drive was initiated. All that survives of the Foolish False Economy Act of 1882 is Section 213. All that Foolish False Economy achieved was the reduction of the incomes of the lowest paid families in Washing ton to point below the existence line"
 "Section 2l3" is the sO-called married persons clause which in effect bars husbands and wives from both holding government jobs.
 The letter, written before Lewis started the organization drive, says the anti-economy committee has asked c. I. o. support and adds:
 "As you know, John L. Lewis and the committee for Industrial Organization supported the presi- dent in the last election. You also know that the c. I. O. has important powerful advocates in congress and the White House. With the support of the c. I. o. the Committee Against False Economy will defeat Foolish False Economy. With the support of the c. I. o. it will organize all government workers into one strong union that will be able to work effectively in the interests of the government worker and for government efficiency"
 Copyright, 1897, NEA Service, Incl