Today in Labor History Jan 16 Thousands of Palmer Raids detainees win right to meet with lawyers

[Omaha Steve]

January 16

The United States Civil Service Commission was established as the Pendleton Act went into effect - 1883

And this: January 16, 1883 - The United States Civil Service Commission was established as the Pendleton Act went into effect. Civil service eliminated a "spoils" system in federal government that had led to corruption and a bloated bureaucracy. Today, with the exception of a few thousand policy-level appointments, nearly all federal jobs are handled within the civil service system.

Thousands of Palmer Raids detainees win right to meet with lawyers and attorney representation at deportation hearings. "Palmer" was Alexander Mitchell Palmer, U.S. Attorney General under Woodrow Wilson. Palmer believed Communism was "eating its way into the homes of the American workman," and Socialists were causing most of the country's social problems - 1920

Former UAW President Leonard Woodcock dies in Ann Arbor, Mich. at age 89. He had succeeded Walter Reuther and led the union from 1970 to 1977 - 2001

Labor history found here: http://www.unionist.com/today-in-labor-history & here: http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?history_9_01_16_2011