Evening star., 1920-01-26

BIanton Argues for Removal
of Secretary of RecIassi-
fication Body.

The House committee on reform in
the civil service today decided not to
take any action on the three resolu-
tions introduced by Representative
Blanton, democrat (Tex.), which pro-
pose to remove former Representative
Edward Keating, democrat (Col), as
secretary of the joint congressional
commission on reclassification of sal
aries of government employees.
This decision was reached after a
hearing at which testimony was given
by Representative Blanton and by Mr..
Keating.
OF great interest to all government
employees is a statement made by Mr..
keating in the course of his testimony
that the reciassifcation commission
has not made a single decision in re-
gard to salaries, and Is still study
ing the question preparatory to max
ing its report to Congress.
Arguments for Expulsion.
Representative Blanton based con-
the expulsion of Mr.. Keating on the
ground that while thus an employe
of Congress he had also accepted a
position as manager of the Plumb
Plan League and as manager of the
editorial directors of Labor, the Off
cial publication of the league, which
has made bitter attacks on members
of both the House and Senate. Mr..
Keating denied in reply to a direct
question that he had ever received 81
for his services with the Plumb Plan
League, and said he had been care
full not to discuss the propaganda
work of the league with any of his
fn fof foS in
In opening the hearing Chairman
Lehlbach of New Jersey asked Repre-
sentative Blanton to direct his argu-
ment so as to show jurisdiction Of the
House for the proposed discharge of
Mr.. Heating. Mr.. Blanton explained
that he had drawn three resolutions
to meet all objections of parliament
tarians. one requiring merely the ac-
ton of the House, the joint reso-
luton requiring the action of the
House and Senate and the concurrent
resolution requiring approval of the
President on the action of the House
and the Senate.
He argued that Mr.. Keating went
to the reclassification task with a
prejudiced opinion, due to the fact
that he had for years been recognized
as spokesman for labor in the
House, and particularly for the gov
ernment employees.
Explains Gift of Workers.
He pointed out, as his resolution set
forth, that on the night Mr.. Keating
left Congress and became an employe
of Congress, he was rendered a din
ner by government employees and 'ac-
cepted gift" from them. Mr.. Keat-
ing later explained that this gift was
in the form of engrossed resolutions
setting forth the government work
ers' appreciation of his services in
their behalf while in Congress.
Representative Blanton quoted at
Labor, showing, he said, that mem
bers Of Congress who were fearlessly
doing their duty were being ''Smeared
with slime and mud' by one of their
own former members and one of their
own appointeeS.
Mr. Heating explained that he had
no active part in the editorship of
this publication. but was not shirking
responsibility. He said he accepted
the position as manager of the
Plumb-plan league with the distinct
understanding that it was not to in
terfere in any way with his work as
a member of the joint reclassification
commission. He told the members of
the committee that the extension of
time for the commission to make it's
report to Congress was entirely
against his wishes, and that as
matter of fact he had made arrange
ments to complete his work with the
commission on January II and that it
was at considerable personal sacri-
flee that he continued with the COM
mission.
Denies Plan to Exploit Labor.
He denied emphatically the state
ments made by Representative Blan-
ton that the Plumb Plan League is
a fund of $10,000.000 for the
of labor and to punish
those members of Congress who op-
pose the league and it's propaganda
Representatives Mooney of Ohio,
Fairfield of Indiana, Smith of Idaho
and Smith of Michigan frequently in
terrupted Mr.. Blanton, endeavoring to
hold him down to statements of facts
regarding ground on which the COM
mittee might pass as to whether Mr..
Keating should remain in office.
The only question in the minds of
the committee seemed to be whether
it was proper for a member of a gov
eminent commission to associate him.
self wih an organization endeavoring
to influence legislation.