Evening star., 1936-01-14
PASSAGE OF LEAVE
! BILLS PREDICTED
Ramspeck Assails "Halt-
Breed Spoils System" at
A. F. G. (. Meeting.

Passage Of the leave bills was FORE
east last night by Representative
Ramspeck, Democrat, Of Georgia,
chairman Of the House Civil Service
Committee, in an address before mem
bers of the American Federation OF
Government Employees in which he
also outlined program OF employe
legislation to be presented at this ses-
sion of Congress, and bluntly attacked
existing personnel policies as a half
breed spoils system"
s The meeting. arranged by Internal
Revenue Bureau Lodge Of the feder-
alton as part Of the observance of
civil service week, was held in
Labor Department auditorium and
was well attended.
Representative Jennings Randolph,
Democrat, of West Virginia, mem
ber of the Civil Service Committee,
and the civil service commissioners
President Harry B. Mitchell, Mrs.
Lucille Foster McMillin and DR.. Leo
nard D. White-also spoke.
Forecast Applauded.
Ramspeck's forecast on the leave
bills, now tied up in the Senate, was
greeted with applause. He has
fathered both measures-one to raise
annual leave from Is to 80 days and
the other to establish 15-day cumu-
1ative sick leave.
He said he believed compromise
reasonably satisfactory to YOU would
be worked out on the employe-spon-
sored measure for voluntary retire.
ment after 80 years service and ex-
poets also that the proposal to have
the annuity system extended to cover
annuitants' dependents would be re-
ported out. Ramspeck was unwilling
to forecast the action on the long
agitated plan for extending classifica-
ton to the field.
The Georgia Representatives. at
tack on administration personnel
policies was in connection with his
declaration in favor Of extending civil
service to cover all but policy forming
positions.
The "half breed spoils system" to
which he took exception, he explained
was that under which he said jobs
were procured through college and
fraternal associations, church affilia-
tions and family relationships"
Il think that that sort of spoils
system is worse than that based on
political preference" Ramspeck de-
clared, "and I condemn them both. "
Ramspeck and other speakers told
the Government workers to do their
part toward promoting civil service
He also urged that those who have
voting privilege exercise that right
irrespective of party.
Representative Randolph praised the
services of Government workers, as did
President Mitchell.
Mitchell said the Civil Service Com
mission is working toward Improving
civil service and added, II think we
are accomplishing something"
DR.. White emphasized that in the
promotion of civil service, progress
rests upon enlightened public opinion" F"
and said employees themselves could do
much to crystalline this sentiment.
Commissioner McMillin said that
women should be particularly inter-
ested in civil service because it means
equality Of opportunity. She asserted
that women are needed in Government
particularly because ''they are a little
more interested In economy" than are
men.
Charles r. Hoffman, president Of
the lodge, opened the meeting and
introduced the presiding officer, Ira
Y. Balm. a national vice president. A
number Of national officers, including
the president, z. Claude Babcock,
greeted the participants.