The Washington times., 1929-01-18
EEHL BACH
9QUER|ES
H||N IN
NOTE

Comptroller-General ]. r.
McCarl escaped the severe
grilling on his decision inter-
preting the WEIGH pay bill By
the simple expedient of failing
to appear before the House
Civil Service Committee today.
The committe has under considera
! ton bills modifying the WEIGH pay
measure. Representative Frederick
r. Lehlbach, of New Jersey. chair
man OF the committee. is one Of Nc
Carl'a severest critics as regards the
omptroller-generafs action in inter.
preting the bill.
Has No Interest
When the committee met today,
LehIbach stated that it was expected
McCarl would be present to give
testimony concerning his views On
the WEIGH act and his ideas on the
proper construction of modifying
! bills.
II saw him yesterday afternoon,
LehlDach said. and he said he had
no interest and no views on the
WEIGH act, its construction or its
modification. He said he felt 1t was
his duty as far as the expenditures
of public money was concerned TO
carry out the wishes OF Congress.
Lehlhach reported McCarl as tax I
ing the ground that his appearance
49, nj h Il
productive of any progress In connec-
ton with the bills under considera
ton. but offered to answer specific |
questions sent him in writing IN re
spect to the first section Of the Lehl- |
bach bill.
eThe Comptroller General held
that he was to consider legislation /
as It came to him." Lehlbaclr ex
planned sand mt to discuss policies
underlying existing legislation.
Writes To McCarI
The first section Of the Lehlbach
bill Is designed to restore to the
Personnel Classification Board sole /
jurisdiction in the matter Of alloca-
tinns and grading of Government
employees. Lehlbach told the com
lnittee he had drawn up two CUES.
tions concerning this section and
had Incorporated them in a letter
{ sent to MeCari today.
The first question asked iMcCarlI
Iii the letter was whether. In view
OF his construction of the WEIGH
act. the language employed in the
first section of Lehlbach's bill, II
enacted, viii empower the classifi-
cation board to CONSIDER. review
end revise the ALLEGATIONS made by
the heads of departments and estab-
1ishments under the authority OF
your said decision in Grades ;,
s.. and OF the professional and
scientific service and Grades H.
IL. ia. IL and is of the clerical.
administrative and fiscal service. :"
Will Hear Boards
In the second question McCarl
was asked if ALLEGATIONS made by
the classification board pursuant to
the authority given it in the bill
could be held Ineffective because
contrary to the provisions OF the
WEIGH act or other existing law.
Following this explanation by
I.elllbach. he announced that the
committee was ready to hear the
members OF the classification board.
Three of the members were present.
all primed to support the L.ehlbach
measure in so far as it affected
the authority of the board
The board members present were
Guy Moffett, Carlos G.. Van Lenr9
End Victor @. Croissant w. H.
McReynolds, OF the Bureau Of
Efficiency, was also scheduled to
testify today.
Moffett, the first witness called.
z !. ls1F@
OF the Ielrd and to criticism Of
the Compt. collier Generals action.
When yesterdays hearing adj
sourned. half an hour later than
the scheduled time for closing the
proceedings, Edwin Evans. Govern
nlent worker and representatives,
large of the Federal clerks. was
on his feet. protesting vehemently
that the committee should not re-
port out bill authorizing appro
priations beyond a sum carefully
calculated to equalize all Govern
nent salaries and not to pay any
employe more than he actually
needed
Are YOU Socialist inquired
Representative Carl G. Bachmann
III West Virginia. a member of the
'sWhat q question: exclaimed the
witness IN hushed tone. Aren't
We ali Socialists? Man is either
Socialist or an Anarchist, In the
last analysis, II he is an individ
ualist. he Is an Anarchist Many
81 us are mixture of both.
Mrs. Mary Hennaughan former
Government employee, asked for re-
neal OF the WEIGH act. FLOYD W..
Woodley, Veterans Bureau person,
rel expert. criticized the classified
fsnn board and drew an analysis
az the vas.aus bills before the COM,
nlittee. sheWing the percentage Of
increases given the Federal en1-
pIoyes under each measure.
save yonrself the worry Of tending
furnace. BY resdinE tcdsy,s l51rlsi.e