Evening star., 1936-11-10
j. S. CIVIL SERVICE
EXTENSION SOUGHT.
Senator Logan Again Will
Press for Consideration
of Bill.
RY l. A. 0'LEARY.

Extension Of the classified civil serv-
ice to the thousands of Government
positions outside that category will be
brought to the attention OF the new
Congress again by Senator Logan,
Democrat, of Kentucky.
The Kentuckian, back in Washing
ton following his reelection last week,
announced today he plans to reintro-
duce his civil service bill, which died
on the Senate calendar last June. 1t
had been on the calendar since the
Spring of 1885, when the Civil Serv>
ice Committee reported 1t. but met
with opposition on the several occa-
sions that it was reached on the call
OF the calendar.
Since this will be new Congress,
bills that failed must be reintroduced
and considered again in committee
Senator Logan said today he did not
believe additional hearings will be nec-
essary. He also said he is more hope
ful OF action in the next Congress.
The Senator pointed out that both
parties put civil service planks in their
latforms for the recent campaign,
which he believes will strengthen his
proposal
Nom Competitive Examination.
Under the Logan bill incumbents
holding non-civil service jobs would
be required to take a non competitive
examination or test in order to obtain
civil service status. While the theory
OF the measure is to apply the civil
service as generally as possible
throughout the Government establish
ment, it would give the President dis
sretionary power to exempt positions
from its application by executive order
In the closing days OF the last ses-
slon another civil service bill was pre-
pared jointly by Senators OMahoney,
Democrat, of Wyoming. and La Fol-
lette. Progressive, OF Wisconsin. This
measure would give the President au-
thority to extend the civil service to
agencies outside the law except bu-
reaus created for a definite temporary
time. In extending the civil service
under this bill incumbents would have
to take an open competitive examina-
ton unless the department head certi-
fed that an incumbent had served with
merit for one year. in which case a
non-competitive test would be suffi-
eient.
POstmasters Under Civil Service.
The O'Mahoney-La Toilette bill also
proposed to place all poStmasters un-
der civil service, starting in 1888
Since the bill was prepared, the Presi-
dent, by executive order, issued In
July. laid down regulations making
possible the applicati tion of civil serv-
ice to future vacancies in first. second
and third class postmasterships 1t
authorized the Postmaster General to
recommend for such vacancies the in
cumbent or some other classified en-
ploye OF the postal service subject to
n-competitive examination. or
the holding of an open competitive
examination.
Another innovation proposed in the
OMahoney-La Toilette measure was
creation OF personnel council in the
Government service to consider ways
and means Of improving the civil serv-
ice and to help bring about classifica-
tion Of salaries and positions in the
field service The council would con-
sist Of the heads of the executive de-
partments, together with one civil
service employe from each executive
agency. There was not sufficient time
before adjournment Of the last Con-
eress to consider this bill.