Evening star., 1941-11-22
Denial Of Jobs
To Men Partly
Disabled Hit
Rejection by Large
Plants Shortsighted,
Soys O. P. M. Aide

Rejection of many potential de-
fense workers because of minor
disabilities was deplored today by
Leonard Cultivate of the minor
tiles section, Office of Production
Management.
Speaking at the National Confer
ence on Employment of the Disabled
at Wardman Park Hotel, Mr.. Outh-
waite said large scale unemploy-
ment' of persons with such minor
disabilities was being caused by the
closing, because of priorities. of small
industries that hire less than Is
workers.
There are approximately 10000
such small plants in the country"
he estimated. Many of these dis
charged workmen have been en-
ployed in these plants for long
periods of years. Upon attempting
to secure employment in larger
plants they are rejected because
of their disabilities.
"Short Sighted Policy"
Mr.. Outhwaite told the confer
ence some plan should be evolved
to influence the larger industries
end their medical directors to ac-
cept these workers.
These workmen have proved
their abilities by years of satisfac-
tory service and are all experienced
workers." he said. Their rejection
is an unreasonable, short-sighted
policy at a time when industry
needs experienced workmen and
these same industries are proclaim
ing the need OF conserving man
power"
The conference heard several
other speakers from Government
agencies discuss the problems of
rehabilitation of the physically
handicapped to bolster the ranks
of production personnel.
The Resolutions Committee
meanwhile was considering the
question of new legislation to i'm
plement the current demand for a
better integration of all agencies to
restore more manpower to useful
ness. In their consideration of the
general problem the committee had
before it a message sent yesterday
by President Roosevelt, calling for
a new program of better co-ordina-
ton of governmental and private
agencies on rehabilitation.
$4,000, 900 Sought.
Outstanding among the measures
expected to receive approval of the
conference is a bill introduced by
Representative Barden of North
Carolina and now pending in the
House Committee on Education. 1t
would amend the Federal Voca-
tional Rehabilitation Act of 1920
to provide among other things au-
thorization of a s5,000,0O0 appro-
priation annually for grants to the
States for expansion of the present
program. 1t would also provide that
at least so per cent of expenditures
from Federal funds be matched by
non-Federal funds in the States.
Among the speakers on today's
program were Lucille Smith of the
Social Security Board, Verne Zim-
mer, Labor Department.; DR.. Verne
K. Harvey, medical director of the
Civil Service Commission, and Mar
tin F. Carpenter, chief, United
States Employment Service Division
of the Federal Security Agency.
This afternoon was devoted to
problems of industrial relations,
With speakers from State and pri-
vate agencies. The conference will
close tomorrow.
Yesterday afternoon and night
we're occupied by private organiza-
tions, with speakers from many
groups. DR.. J. Winthrop Peabody
OF this city, president-elect of the
American College of Chest Physi-
clans. presided yesterday afternoon
and A. L. Van Horn of the Labor
Department presided last nigt.
At last nights session James r.
Garfield, president of the American
Society of the Hard of Hearing,
asked for wider employment oppor-
tunities for the physically handi-
capped through broadening of civil
service regulations and abandon
ment of prejudices by certain en-
ployers.
Deafened workers deserve defense
industry preference, he pointed out,
in certain noisy spots, like engine
rooms and boiler factories, where
they could perform more efficiently
than persons with normal hearing.
Mr.. Garfield, Secretary of the In
terror under Theodore Roosevelt and
q son of former President Garfield.
said a recent official survey showed
deaf persons were employed in $50
occupations covered by the occupa-
tional census.