The Washington times., 1935-11-12
UNIFORM PLAN
ON HOLIDAYS
DESIRED
By J. EARLE MOSER

For the past Is years, Federal
employees stationed in Washington
have fused, fretted and fumed at
the approach of semiofficial holi.
days, wondering whether or not
they will "get off" for the coming
event without chiSeling into &C
crued leave.
When an order from the White
House is issued early enough to
clear up doubt all goes fine, but
when no order is forthcoming a
condition occurs as did yesterday
when most of the veterans were
given time off to attend Armls-
tice Day rites but some in few
offices had to sign up for leave.
This was the case particularly in
Treasury, State and Federal Trade
Commission.
An administrative order at the
latter office was, in part, as
follows:
In view of the fact that the
commission is without authority
to excuse the employees except in
pursuance of the leave regula'
tions, the commission directed
that employees be notified that an
nual leave or leave without pay
will be granted to any employe
who can be excused without detri
ment to the public service, to at
tend the aforementioned ser
vices"
According to most officials. how
ever, offices frequently take the
authority in their own hands when
there is no White House order
and General Accounting Office
Commerce, Navy, Interior, PWA
Justice, War, Agriculture, AAA
MIRA and the Civil Service Com
mission allowed their workers
who are veterans. to attend the
exercises. excusing them for the
most part between 1890 a. m
and noon, with orders to report
back at that time.
If there is doubt, the usual pro
Oedure is for administrative heads
to call one another for a consulta'
ton, as to what they'll do. Com
menting on this, an official today
first asked not to be quoted, and
then added:
"You know, this veteran bust
ness is very touchy. They (the
vets. told us they were ordered to
be on hand by their military or
ganizationS, so we checked with
other offices and finally let 'em
off without taking leave. This
calling between departments is a
nuisance to US, but I don't see
any way to coordinate our action
when there is no Executive order
to guide us"
Senator William E. Borah, it
was revealed today, has backed
the drive of the A. F. G. E. to
induce the Civil Service Commits
sion to reverse what is termed
''its apparent present tendency to
favor too greatly a college educa,
ton as against practical expert
ence." Also, Representative A. H,
Carmichael, of Alabama, tersely
wrote, Worth ought to be the
test" while Lawrence WeStbrook,
aide to WPA Administrator Harry
L. Hopkins, answered with the fol
lowing opinion:
''Mr. Hopkins has referred to me
your letter to which you attached
a statement concerning the grow
ing practice of diSregarding expert.
ence for the filling Of high and
low jobs in the Government Serv
ice You are advised that it is
the policy Of this administration
to employe people on the basis o1
their qualifications for the posi-
tions to be filled"
Senator Borah's letter read as
follows:
ST feel very strongly about the
subject covered by your letter. But
instead of writing as you suggest
think it would be better wher
I return to Washington, which
will be very shortly. to have tall
with the Civil Service Commission
or some member thereof. You can
be assured that I am in sympathy
with your views and will help tc
present the matter to the commits
elm