The Washington times., 1936-03-09
LAW
OVERLOOKED
IN FHACUT
BY J. EARLE MOSER

4ne TeVeldGlOl Cdul6 dS IA1S
result of a complaint by an EN-.
ploye. who charged that FILA
has not only ignored the rule
requiring reducing agencies to
discharge persons married to
others in the Government serv.
ice, but has totally ignored the
use of efficiency ratings in decid-
ing which employees were to go.
Questioned on the alleged cold
shoulder given the marriage
clause, certain FHA officials ad.
mitted the truth of the charge,
saying that the remaining piece
of Economy legislation still in
force has been a sore spot" in
FILA . licies for several months.
The agency, it was pointed out,
attempts to follow regulations of
the Civil Service Commission as
nearly as possible. It was ad-
mitted, however, that married
folk were kept during the recent
cut despite the strict Civil SerV.
ice law that they must be the
first to leave during a staff re-
duction.
At General Accounting Office,
where laws pertaining to the Gov
ernment receive their final inter-
probation, it was pointed out that
all emergency agencies are sup
posedly bound to observe section
213 until it's many opponents can
get the vexing measure repealed.
Only old-line offices must also re-
frain from hiring folk married to
Federal employees, it was said.
However, it was indicated at
FHA that in certain administra-
tive quarters the law is considered
'''inhuman" and therefore not
stictly enforced, if at all.
Housing moguls also admitted
efficiency ratings were given a
minimum of attention in reducing
their personnel, and presented a
reason. While a record of en-
ployes was kept on a simplified
basis, rating them good, bad or
Indifferent" it was stated that the
recent firings were conducted on
Q basis of completed or eliminated
work. It was said, I'VE did not
fire people as such, we merely cut
out certain work, and those on
that work were the ones to CO."
FHA'S reduction methods were
attacked last week by organized
workers, who charged dismissals
were being directed mainly at Dis
trict of Columbia, Maryland and
Virginia residents. This also was
admitted in part, because appor-
tionment is q Civil Service rule
and "FHA attempts to follow Civil
Service"
New Increase
z. Claude Babcock, the portly
gentleman who goes without an
overcoat in zero weather, some
times gets mysteriouSly attacked
In faraway cities and between times
administrates the A. F. G. E., to-
day is in New York city attend.
ing to admission of the Associa.
tion of Workers in Public Relief
Agencies, which has voted SO per
cent fc.' affiliation with the A. F.
G. E. It will mean 1000 new
members Of the A. F. G. ELS State,
City and County branch, 1t is re'
ported.
Incidentally, Mr.. Babcock is
actually staying in Newark, where
the elevator strike isn't so fierce
Mary GiOrdanO Named
Mrs, Mary Giordano, renowned
as one of the hardest workers for
the N. F. F. E. in Washington,
and a veritable terror in lining
up new members, has been nomi'
mated ior the presidency Of the
General Accounting Office branch
of Local No. 2. The following
nominees are on the slate with
her: w. H. Lowrie, first vice presi.
dent: T. A. Wilkinson, second vice
president; Lee H. Shugar, Secre.
tary-treasurer. The local is 10
years old and is to elect it's nomi
mated officers shortly at an ami
zversary dinner.
Interstate Singers Set
The pride of the Interstate
Commerce Commission, it's crack
male chorus, will be among the
1000 singers that are to gather
in Madison Square Garden on
April / to take part in a concert
of the Associated Glee Clubs Of
America, given in honor Of the
Music Educators National Confer
ence during that week and under
auspices of the American Society
of Composers, Authors and Pub
fishers.
H. M. Brown, J. F. Donaldson
j. Paul Kelley, r. L. Feuerstein,
Charles F. Smith, William T.
Spence, Eugene C. Kautz and H
H. Kautz will be among singers
who will represent I. c. C. during
the concert. Federal and New
York officials, as well as many
others from towns and cities
whose glee clubs are participating
will attend.
=. Education Broadcast
At 7:45 p. m. today the Interior
Departments Office of Education
will sponsor a radio broadcast
over a coast-to-coast NBC hook-ur
describing the fate of the little
red Schoolhouse" in America, how
it is faring and how the depres
sion affected it. The program, the
ninety-sixth of a series, is under
the general title Of Education ir
&ha Nauyc p