Evening star., 1936-01-21
EMP[OYE BILLS
FIGHT IS PRESSED
Ramspeck Puts Marriage
Clause Repeal on His
Must List.
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

Chairman Ramspeck OF the House
Civil Service Committee is determined
to get action early in the present ses-
sion on at least two bills that have
been pending some time to improve
working conditions for Government
employees. Both bills failed to receive
consideration in the House yesterday,
through objection being raised when
they were reached on the consent
calendar.
Three Civil Service bills were called
up-and were objected to. Cd Ex-
tending the classified civil service to
postmasters Of the first, second and
third class, 90 permitting employees of
Congress to choose whether or not
they will come under provisions of the
retirement act, go amending the mar
ried women's clause in the economy
act.
Ramspeck is not SO much interested
in the fate OF the bill for bringing the
Capitol employees unoer the retire
ment act although he advocated fav-
orable action, as did also Chairman
Cochran Of the Committee on ex-
penditures and Chairman Mead of the
Post Office Committee Objection was
raised by Representative Costello Of
California that it would set up spe-
cial-privilege class.
May Ask Special Rule.
He said however, he will await the
next opportunity to call up the other
two bills on the consent calendar, and
that if objection is again renewed he
will seek a special rule allowing these
measures to be considered on their
merits at an early date.
Mead explained the desirability OF
placing first, second and third class
postmasters under civil service. He
emphasized 1t is recommended by the
President and Postmaster General
Farley, the Post Office Department,
the Civil Service Commission and the
House Civil Service Committee. The
legislation was originally introduced
by Mead and Senator O'Mahoney,
former Assistant Postmaster General.
1t was objected to by Representative
Ransley of Pennsylvania.
Nepotism Charge Raised.
Charges of nepotism were again
heard in the House when the attempt
was made to repeal the married
persons clause" which provides that
in any reduction of personnel dismis-
sails shall be made first where both
husbands and wives are employed in
tie Government service.
Representative Cellor. who is spon-
soring this measure, claimed In
speech in the House that the present
law is discriminatory in that it ap-
plies only to the classified service and
does not affect workers in the emer-
gency agencies He promised to put
into the record a list showing how
heavily it had borne upon the low
salaried employees. 1T does not af-
feet" he said, those who are espe-
cially fit, who are the so-called ex-
perts."
He declared many members OF Con-
gress have wives, sons and daughters
on the pay roll ana tnat II tney IN
tend to be fair the married persons
clause should be made to apply to all
The Cellor bill also would amend the
civil service act of 1883 by providing
that no appointments could be ap-
proved where the combined Govern
ment salaries of the members of a
family would equal or exceed $4,000.
The objection to this bill was made
by Chairman Cochran of the Com
mittee on Expenditures.
Representative Rich. Republican. OF
Pennsylvania said "only 6 per cent of
the separations occurred among en-
ployes earning s2500 per annum
while over 80 per cent Of dismissals
occurred among employees who earned
less than $4,000 per annum."