Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-06
Bishops Son Appointed Un-
der Longtime Rule,
Says Statement.
COMMISSION ANSWERS
PROTEST OF TYDINGS
Says Private Secretaries or Con.
fidential Clerks May Be Named
Without Tests.

There was nothing irregular about
the appointment Of Edward Lee Can
non, son of Bishop James Cannon, jr.,
of the Methodist Episcopal Church
South to temporary clerical position
in the Census Bureau.
This. in effect, was the answer of the
Civil Service Commission today to a
protest by Senator Tydings of Mary
land, who called on the commission to
explain why young Cannon, with no
civil service status, received an appoint
ment ahead of some of his constitu-
ents.
The commission, i'm a formal state
ment, declared that Cannon was APP
pointed under a longtime civil service
rule permitting heads and assistant
heads of the departments to employ
private secretaries or confidential clerks
without examination.
Statement Explains Situation.
"For many years." the statement
said, there has appeared in the civil
service rules provision permitting ap-
pointmentS without competition to posi-
lions of two private secretaries or con-
f1dential clerks to the head Of each OF
the executive departments and one to
each assistant head
Under date of July 81 the Depart
ment of Commerce requested authority
for the appointment of Mr.. Cannon to
one of the two positions within the
discretion of the Secretary Of Commerce
and such authority was granted"
Senator Tydings had written the COM
mission a letter referring to press re-
ports Of Cannon's appointment at a
salary OF $2,4O0 year, and his letter
said:
During several months past have
recommended for temporary appoint
ment in the Census Bureau a number
of persons not on the civil service regis
ter but the invariable reply of w. M.
Steuart, director of the Census Bureau,
has been that no person would be ap-
pointed except from the certified lists.
My information from your commission
was to the effect that Mr.. Steuart was
correct in this stand SO long as there
were available persons having civil serv-
ice status, and that there was an abun-
dainty large list on hand from which
to make appointments.
Asks If Rule Was Abrogated.
"Mr. Steuart's position was made very
clear in paragraph four of a circular
issued over his signature on July Is,
1929. which states:
persons desiring appointment to the
temporary force in Washington, d c.,
who have no civil service status for en-
ployment, will be required to pass ex-
eminations which will be announced
later by the United States Civil Service
Commission. The requirement for en-
ployes will be greatest during the Sum-
mer and Fall Of 1880, and few, if any,
appointments will be necessary prior to
April of that year.
In the interest of large number
Of my constituents, who wish even tenn
porary positions in the Census Bureau
and whom believe to be well qualified
and deserving, would be pleased to
know If the rule requiring civil service
status has been abrogated. II 1t has
not, I respectfully request that you will
investigate and inform me why it has
been waived to give one person a place
at $2,400 year while those who have
complied with the civil service require
ments, If they succeed in obtaining ap-
pointments, are started at a much
lower salary"