The Washington times., 1936-12-17
HELPS
I.C.C. FIELD
EMPLOYEES
By J. EARLE MosER

BY J. EARLE MOSER
For pictures and biographical sketches
published daily in The Times, Govern.
ment employees and members Of Federal
ORGANIZATIONS should contact the writer
In the editorial room BY 5:lS p, M or
fore 9 p. m.
Every once in a while claims are
made upon the General Account
ing Office which are based on
sufficient logic and legal backing
to allow decision in favor Of the
employe rather than the Govern
ment.
Such a one has been recently
handed down, it was revealed to-
day, and will undoubtedly prove
decided benefit to agents Of the
Interstate Commerce Commission
who are assigned to check the
books and accounts of various
airplane transport companies to
see, under the Air Mail Act, that
air mail contractors are not max
ing too much profit. Or. as Off
cial verbiage has it, an "unreas
enable profit"
The ruling is based on the ex
perience of three 1. c. C. agents.
T. D. Cowen, Warner L. Hewlett
and John H. Rudd, who were as
signed to field service some time
ago. They were stationed for
duty at an airport some distance
from its base city and conse.
quently had to pay considerable
total cash for bus service to and
fro. Between them they rolled
up $5S.1o in claims for expense
refunds.
When submitted, General Ac.
counting promptly bounced back
the vouchers on the grounds that
official rules prevent allowances
to field workers who incur ex.
penseS which are merely required
daily Of the inhabitants Of the
place where they are temporarily
stationed"
But I. c. C.. officials got busy
and obtained memorandum from
the Bureau Of Air Mail, pointing
out that air companies usually
provide bus service for passengers
and similar facilities for their own
employees, but that Government
workers are left in the 'lurch. Ths
memo declared:
"Due to the remOteneSS Of To-
cation Of these airpOrts and air
terminals from habitable areas,
the situation presented In the
field work Of this bureau Il in
no way comparable to that Of
an employe in travelling from
his hotel or place of lodging to
his initial point Of duty In city
or town."
=. So G. A. O., making reservations
that explanation of the case must
accompany all future expense
vouchers, has allowed the claims.
Rain, fog and sneaking cold
germs failed to keep several score
'"key members" Of the District
Federation Of Federal Employees
from attending gathering last
night at headquarters to meet
members of the National Fedora
ton of Federal Employees execu'
tive council, in town just now to
discuss plans for presenting de-
sired personnel legislation before
Congress.
Joseph Stansfield, of I. c. c.,
presided and introduced, in turn,
Vaux Owen, of Atlanta; Arthur
Joschims, Of Seattle; George
Evans, of Denver; Ukey j. kid"
Biller, Of the D. c.; DR.. Walter
Taylor, Of College Station, Texas,
and John Fitzgerald. Of New
York. Bill" Rapsher, Of Phila'
delphia, and Charlie" Wiegand,
Of Baltimore, had left for home
because Of pressure Of business,
while Lee Whitney remained in
his hotel due to the aforesaid
cold germs.
Most of the councilmen spoke
briefly, advocating increase of the
membership which already totals
10000, while Mr.. Owen described
an interview with House Civil
Service Chairman Ramspeck in
which he disclosed that Mr..
Ramspeck is highly in favor OF
extending probational periods for
Civil Service appointees from six
to. - months, with a definite
work review taken before they OBJ
tain a permanent status.
President Luther Steward
pointed out the contrast between
the present councils harmony and
the inexperience Of the N. F. F. ELS
first group, back in 1917. He also
said:
eve have not been beset by
factiOnalism, personal selfish
ness and ambition, or narrow.
mindedneSS. We have viewed
our problems in the interest of
the whole mass of employees,
from charwOmen to bureau
chief, embracing ALL"
He added that in the long run a
complete merit system will benefit
the tax-paying public even more
than personnel.
Coffee, "sinkers" and films Of
the 1885 Yellowstone convention
completed the evenings pleasure.
Ten young men Of Colgate Uni
versity yesterday met Senator
Copeland of New York, as part Of
their Septem b e r-to-February
course in learning public admin
istration and political ins.and-
n1ItS