The Washington times., 1935-11-09
MERIT SYSTEM
FUND DRIVE
TO CLOSE
BY J. EARLE MOSER


fund Of the National Federation
of Federal Employees, Local No. 2
of the organization will bring the
first phase of its drive to q close
next Friday evening with a dance
at the willard Hotel.
Between TOO and 800 are ex-
pected to attend the festival, &C
cording to Secretary Treasurer
Henry G.. Nolds, with all net pro-
ceeds going to the merit system
fund. william Walsh. General
Accounting Office worker, Is
chairman Of the committee on ar
rangementS, with Mr.. Nolda han
ding the ticket sales.
Local No. 2, which Is the larg-
est single unit Of the N. F. F. E.,
will continue its membership
drive after completion of the
dance, particularly aiming at en-
rolling new employees in the vari-
Gus emergency agencies. 1t now
extends into every old-line office
where there is no independent
N. F. F. E. union organized.
Incidentally, Monday win see
new officers Of the Treasury local
Installed, marking the end Of the
presidential contest between the
incumbent, ]. o. Burnham, Of In
ternal Revenue, and Miss Roberta
L. Lindsey, former president, who
was strongly backed. On Tues
day the Bureau Of Engraving and
Printing local, composed Of women
only, win meet at the Willard
Hotel, while Wednesday the ex-
ecutive councils Of the d. c.
Federation Of Federal Employees
and Local as hospital guild win
discuss future business.
All meetings except the En-
craving and Printing confab will
be held at ITO Fourteenth Street,
N. W., which has long served IS
headquarters for washington
members of the N. p. F. z.
Both Congressman and Sena-
tors are Fundamentally backing
the drive against "OveremphaSis"
of college degrees in the Govern
ment service on which the Amer
lean Federation Of Government
Employees has instituted drive.
In a letter to the A. r. G. E.
headquarters, Senator Walter r.
George Cd Of Georgia wrote,
Sin my opinion the Civil Service
should select people who are
qualified as shown by their exam
ination and who possess the nee
essary character qualifications.
If they meet reasonable tests
they should have the opportunity
to enter the Civil Service, not
withstanding the fact they are
denied a college education"
Representative Schuyler Otis
Bland CD Of Virginia wrote to
the Civil Service Commission.
saying:
my attention has been drawn
to the increasing tendency to re-
quire college training for Gov
eminent employees. Such training
IS desirable and in S&ct neces-
sary in some cases, but it should
be prescribed only when -abso-
mtely necessary"
Senator Duncan U. Fletcher
CD of Florida adds, my con.
stituentS raise objections to these
unnecessary educational require
mentS in various Civil Service
examinations because they have
been unable to meet the technical
requirements" while Represen-
tative Charles r. Eckert D) Of
Pennsylvania stated, my thought
is that the Civil Service CommiS-
sion ought to ascertain the quail
fications of an applicant, IRE
spective of any scholastic
education or training"
It was revealed today that the
Navy Department has agreed 70
initiate a test case Of administra-
tive application Of Group CAB"
classification. involving interpre-
tation of the Saving clause" in
classification legislation. The
clause provides that salaries shall
not be reduced, in the field, where
there has been no change in duties
since the effective date Of the
Brookhart salary act. and Navy
officials plan to study the case
of a worker in the New York Naval
District whose salary was reduced
considerably during CAB" claSsifi-
cation, which affected field en-
ployes outside of skilled craftsmen
Or laborerS.
The investigation came at the
request of the A. F. G. E., follow
ing negotiations that have been
under way for the last eight
months.
Help to parents in solving their
home problems is furnished by the
Federal Government, national,
State and local agencies and from
public schools, colleges and uni
versities, study by Ellen C. Lom-
bard, specialist in child education
for the Interior Department office
of educat ton reveals. A bulletin,
parent Education Opportunities, -
written by Miss Lombard, points
out that parent education projects
have been carried on In ct least 40
cities in a dozen States.
The following fair employees are