Evening star., 1938-09-15
FIREWORKS FLY
AS AT, c, f, ENDS
CHICAGO SESSION
Glass, 0usted From Council,
Takes Floor, Denouncinq.
Current Rumors.
NEW YORK is CHOSEN
AS CONVENTION SIGHT
Unexpected Fight Breaks Out
When Convention Rejects
Committee Proposal.
BY J. A. FOX,
Star Staff Correspondent.

cIlIll dllIFudl COIlVeIlllOI1 OF Lne AIleTl.
can Federation of Government En-
ployes ended in a shower of fireworks
at noon today, David G. Glass of
Washington. the charter president,
who had been removed from the Ex-
ecutive Council, taking the floor to
denounce as an infamous lie' rumors
.he said had been spread that the
removal was due to the fact that he
had 'peddled secrets of the council"
Just before Mr.. Glass made his un-
expected speech. the convention got
IN battle over selection of con-
vention site for 1889, finally choosing
New York after rejecting commit
tee report recommending Atlantic
& City.
Mr. Glass. one of the founders Of
the A. F. G.. E., was given the title
OF charter president three years ago
after being dropped from vice presi-
dency. He is at present a salaried
employe on the headquarters staff of
the federation.
Privilege of Voice Revoked.
The present convention left him the
d
voice on the floor and in the Council
where he has sat without vote 1t had
!. been said informally that there was
dissatisfaction with his activities.
His speech today drew no response
The fight over the convention site
also was unexpected. After rejecting
Atlantic City, the convention voted on
New York and San Francisco-each
with a Worlds Fair offer. The 1899
meeting will be the last annual gath
ering of the Federation, which here
after convenes biennialy.
Resolutions on wide variety of
topics were adopted in the final ses-
sion Of the convention. which yester-
day formulated the legislative program
to be pushed at the next session of
Congress.
One resolution committed the fedora
tion to movement to erect memorial
to Senator George H. Pendleton of
Ohio. one of the sponsors of the civil
service law, and each lodge, next year,
will be asked to contribute 81 to start
the necessary funds.
Move to Aid Guards.
The federation Officers were instruct
ed in another resolution to seek i'm
provement in the working conditions
of the guard force at the National
Training School for Boys in Wash
ington. 1t was explained in this con-
nection that $4,000 was given the
institution in the past year for this
purpose, but the money was used to
hire additional clerical help, and that
while the penal force is getting one
day off in seven. longer hours are
being worked than when the seven
day work-week prevailed.
The convention called for joint
inquiry by the Civil Service Commis-
sion and the War Department of con-
ditions in the district engineers Office.
War Department. in Los Angeles,
where widespread violations of civil
service we're alleged.
Side-Step Group Health.
In adopting legislative program
to urge on the next Congress, the
federation side-stepped action on the
group health movement in the Gov
ernment service, referring to the ex-
ecutive council for consideration two
resolutions which had implications OF
this nature One of these called for
medical and dental care and hospitali-
Eation in the armed service hospitals
for civil employees of the Government
The other proposed simply free hos
pitalization and medical care"
Treating with these issues, the re-
port OF the Legislative Committee,
which was adopted unanimously, said
they ARE of such Importance in view
of the trend of public sentiment in
the direction of group medicine that
your committee believes that these
resolutions should be referred to the
National Executive Council with in
structions for a comprehensive study
as to the advisability of sponsoring
legislation which would include all
Government employees, provide medical
and hospital service at minimum
cost and at the same time preserve
the right of employees to the choice
of physicians and hospitals
To the executive council for con-
bluci dIlUll dloU WeIlI d leSoAuGioll plo-
posing unemployment compensation
for dismissed Government employees
along the lines of that provided in
private industry
The legislative program Endorsed
In the convention followed IN general,
that which has been urged for a
number of years. In addition, there
were changes urged in President
Roosevelt's orders of June "a to i'm
prove civil service. One Of these
would provide specifically for sex
equality in the promotion examina-
tions now contemplated, and the other
would give employees the right to be
represented by counsel in cases going
before the appeals tribunals that are
to be set up.
The legislative benefits sought in
elude: $500 minimum pay; 5-day,
35-hour week; extension of Civil Serv-
ice to positions that cannot be reached
by executive order; liberalized retire.
ment, including optional retirement
after 80 years service; classification
for field workers compensation for
overtime.
Improved working conditions for
guards, custodial employees and work.
ers in veterans facilities also were
urged.
Burns Inn May Go.