Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-28
Criticizes Methods in Which
Testimony Was Evaded
Before Committee"
"PEDDLING" STATEMENT .
ALSO IS CENSURED
Representative Charges Move Was
Supplemented by Active Pro-
paganda by Employees"

Chairman Lehlback of the House civil
service committee today sent a letter
to Controller General McCarl, sharply
criticising the method in which he
''evaded giving testimony before the
committee" on the pay bill, Mr.. Nc.
Carts method Of escaping examina-
ton" and cenSured him for incorpora-
ting In the record his opinions las an
expert statement free from customary
cross-examination."
Mr.. Lehlbach stated that the civil
service committee is not favorably i'm.
pressed He also censures Mr.. McCarlS
reported "peddling" his statement
throughout the Government depart
ments. supplemented by an active
propaganda by employees of the Gen.
eral Accounting once"
Mr.. Lehlbach's letter to the controller
general Is, in part, as follows:
Under date Of January 16, wrote
you requesting your attendance at the
nearing held on bills affecting the
WEIGH act. specifically to testify as to
certain provisions and generally 70
express your views and opinions on the
merits Of the various proposals before
the committee and the desirability OF
cnacting them into law.
In response to this letter you made
an appointment by telephone and called
az the ONCE OF the committee on the
afternoon OF January II. You told ma
that the General Accounting once OF
which you are the head would be glad
10 furnish Congress or any committees
thereof an opinion in writing whether
the Language In a bill would be con-
ssrueo ny the accounting officials as
eM!Isectuating the obvious purposes of the
Ing the provisions under Consideration
would be addressed to you In writing.
TO this agreed and such specific cues
lions were framed with your assistance
ana later mailed you.
Recounts Views.
AS to the views on the merits of the
propositions under consideration Won
stated positively you held none which
you wished to express and that yo,Ir sole
concern was to ascertain what Congress
OF the committee thereof desired 20
enect ana to assist In making effective
tnat purpose. You further said that in
view OF your complete Observation-Disclosures
IN the merits Of the legislation, and that
answer 70 the questions concerning the
construction Of provisions would be. fur
nisneo In writing after study, no useful
purpose would be served In testimony at
IN. an. nearing IN response to the request Of
the committee. In full reliance on
these representations by YOU I excused
you, In behalf Of the committee. from
testnying. I reported the facts to the
committee who acquiesced In nv action
"A DAY or so after the hearing closed
there was received from your once over
your signature a reply to the REQUEST
Ior construction OF the propositions sub
mitted. These questions were answered
IN Few brief sentences and the rest Of
the volummous communication was de.
Votso 70 Virulent attack on the merits
posed.
Not Favorably Impressed.
In the IA years have been a WAR;
Der Of the House of RepresentativSs r
nave neither known nor heard of an
occasion where Government oficiai
having views to express on pending Leg
islatlon has refused or evaded giving
testimony before the committee con-
cerned when so requested. Your method
OF escaping examination as to the
validity OF the premises upon which YOU
nase your opposition, and of incorporate
ing IL IN the record as an ex parte state.
nent ireeo from customary croSs-ex-
animation does not impress this com
mittee favorably.
furthermore, the committee learns In
ltS establishment that copies of This
communication have been peddled
throughout tho departments Of the
government and have found their wav
INTO the press, supplemented by an az
i've propaganda by employees OF the
General Accounting Once. All COM
munications and memoranda furnished
the committee bearing on this pro-
posed legislation have been withheId
from publication and will appear in the
report OF the hearing so that all inter-
eSted may have . complete picture Of
the situation.
Il do not now desire to comment ON
your fantastic conception OF the pur-
pose, plan, scope and provisions of the
classification act. That Will be done
at appropriate times and occasions.
Permit me. however. to make an in
qury: Why do you now deny the right
OF the Personnel Classification Board
TO correct errors in initial ALLEGATIONS
when for the last five years you person-
ally have invoked the exercise of that
function for the benefit of employees In
your ONCE and have sanctioned hum
dreds Of such instances by approving
the resultant change in salary and
authorizing its payment?
In view Of the publicity given your
communication to the committee. this
letter will be given to the press innmedi-
ately."
a