Evening star., 1934-09-30
Campaign for "Free Hand'
Brings Exemption From
Examinations.
BULLETIN REVEALS
AMENDED AGREEMENT
Commissioner Position for
Change Last Winter and U. S.
Employees Protests Recalled.

The District Commissioners finally
have won official permission from the
Civil Service Commission TO appoint
department heads of the municipal
government without regard to civil
service examination rules applying to
applicants for minor District jobs.
The agreement requiring that new
appointees be drawn from the eligible
lists Of the Civil Service Commission
has been amended to exempt depart
ment heads, 1t was revealed yesterday
in a bulletin to major city officials.
A campaign to effect this change
was started last January, when the
city heads decided that they should
have a free hand" in naming their
chief subordinates. At the time de
serving Democrats" we're making de-
termined efforts to land District jobs.
Since that time the rule has been
ignored in the selection of several de-
partment heads, but the off1cial ex-
emption of such posts clears the path
for friends of political leaders.
Significance Is Denied.
The Commissioners were not avail
able yesterday when Daniel E. Garges,
secretary to the board. disclosed the
change. Junior District executives in
sisted amendment Of the rules had no
special current Importance.
District officials have asserted all
during the last year that it was the
general understanding that depart
ment heads were not subject to the
civil service examination rule, although
their exemption was not officially stat
ed in the agreement.
The Commissioners declared their
position on appointment of de-
partment heads last Winter after
political interests had started a move
ment to have the entire civil service
eligibility rule wiped out so as to make
straight political appointments an easy
matter.
Disclosure of that plan prematurely
brought protests from organized Gov
ernment employees and it was modi-
ned to limit the additional exemp-
tons to the more major officials. As
the rule now stands examinations are
required for the most part only for
clerical workers.
Farley Often Consulted.
Postmaster General Farley has been
consulted" on nearly all Of the ap-
pointments made by the new Commis-
sioners. The Commissioners have
made many trips to his office before
naming new officials. In several i'm
portant cases, non-residents of Wash
ington have been named to District
posts, it was recalled.
The Commissioners now have before
them a demand from Representative
Blanton Of Texas that resident OF
Abilene, Tex, Blanton's home town
be appointed an assistant corporation
counsel. This candidate. Maurice v
Books. would take the place left va
cant by the recent resignation of an
other Of Blantons proteges, Andrew
M. Howsley, also of Texas, who has
returned to political affairs in the
Lone Star State.
An important post is to be filled
soon, one covered by the change in
rules, in the selection Of a special as
sistant to the corporation counsel to
handle utility matters. The salary is
$1,000. Qualifications of candidates
now are being reviewed.
Health Officer William c. Fowler is
slated to be retired November "a when
he reaches the age of 10 and several
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