Evening star., 1933-10-29
STEWARD ASSA|[S
Job -"SPO|LSMEN"
AF.F. (. President Charges
Politicians Disrupting
Merit System.

Charging that serious inroads are
being made into the merit system By
"spoilsmen" representing "the largest
army Of political 1ob-hunters in the
Nations history" Luther c. Steward,
president Of the National Federation Of
Federal Employees, In q statement re-
leased for publication today. declared
that decisive executive action is de-
manded Immediately to stop the van
dals from further disrupting depreda-
Steward cited what were described
Is typical instances to support his
allegations, and said 1t was absurd Ito
expect the Federal Government to exert
its maximum possible influence toward
national economic recovery when such
. large proportion OF the agencies en-
gagged In recovery work are over
burdend with political appointees"
"The barrage Of the spoilsmen ex-
tends throughout the length and
breadth Of the Federal service" Stew
ard declared Those who assume that
employees of the competitive classified
civil service have been immune from
this attack. unprecedented in volume
and extent in modern times, unfortu-
nately are wholly mistaken.
Economy Is Guise."
Likewise. those who assume that
the inroads are confined to the new
relief agencies also are mistaken. The
plain, unvarnished truth is that even
the permanent establishments, long
considered strongholds of the merit syS-
TEN, and bulwarks of the civil service
ideal In principle and in fact, likewise
have not been overlooked by the poll
ticians
Furthermore. any Of the various
moves made under the guise Of econ
omy. or made necessary by some Of the
so-calfed economy legislation, at some
point will show the taint Of attempted
political raiding. For example, where
Federal agencies have been consoli-
dated under executive order. provision
has been made for the personnel 50
merged to be given only temporary ap-
pointments Regardless Of the intent
OF such an arrangement the result has
been to invite political chise!erS to use
every device for the purpose Of elimi-
mating experienced employees with COM
pstitive civil service status and replac-
ing them by political appointees or
those who are beneflciaries OF political
influence as against merit.
cable Workers Forced Out"
"In many instances newly appointed
politicians with administrative author
ity have begun forcing out capable, ex-
perienced employees with competitive
status in order to replace them with po-
Httcal hangers-on."
ti0n executive asserted in one bureau
chief clerk with civil service status,
and long and efficient experience, first
col nf
$1,000, and on the occasion of the last
cut was informed by the politician who
had been appointed as his chief that
he would be cut still further until he
was forced out Of the service.
I'm another bureau an employe with
competitive status, and many years ex-
perience, and high degree of eficien-
without his own knowledge to posi-
tion outside the competitive service. He
was then told he would be dismissed.
and as is customary in that bureau, de-
spite the actual dismissal for political
reasons the record indicates he resigned.
In still another bureau where q
large number Of dismissas and in
definite furloughs have taken place. the
announced policy has been, when new
personnel was needed to recommend
those furloughed or released without
reflection on their emc1ency. Due to
political pressure, this policy has been
changed. and where new activities are
opened up, instead OF having recourse
to the unemployment register and re-
calling those indefinitely furloughed,
examinations will be held limited solely
to local people, thus discriminating
against experienced and thoroughly
qualified employees who had been penal
tzed by the so-called economy legis-
lation."