The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-12-16

D. M
One Of those rare events-a COM
pletely successful evening-occu-
pied conversation in Commerce
Department halls today.
he occasion, which lasted until
the wee sma' hours Of this morn
ing after a 7 o'clock beginning yes
terday eve, was the ladies night"
feStivity of the Commerce De.
partment Anchor Club, the Ma
sonic organization Of the agency.
Held at the Willard Hotel, the
fete drew more than 400 Federal
workers, who witnessed a high
light consisting of the presentation
of a life membership in the club
to Otto P. Roepke, en examiner
in the Patent office who is Grand
Master Of Masons in the District
Of Columbia, their head man"
within Capital boundaries.
The presentation was made by
e. w. Libbey, Commerce chief
clerk, and Malcolm w. Kerlin, ex.
ecutive assistant to Secretary Ro-
per and president of the Anchor
Club.
Following the ceremony there
occurred one of the most peppery
floor shows ever enjoyed by an
audience of Government clerks,
an entertaining program culminat-
ing with Lucille and Linden,
Cuban dance team famed on stage
and screen, and studded through
out with talent" of semi.pro-
fessional variety that earns it's
regular living by repose on Uncle
Sans pay rolls. Dancing fol-
lowed.
Among Federalites who enter
tanned pleaSingly were Kenneth
Shockley of the Census Bureau,
who sang "Old Man River" among
other selections in an excellent
bass accompanied by himself on
a guitar as large as himself.
Frances Jackson, Bureau of Air
Commerce, likewise rendered sew
eral we'll received vocal offerings
while Charlie" Jackson of the
Veterans Administrations claims
division, teamed with Marian Nc
Kaye, veteran professional trou-
per, in humorous dialogue, songs
and mouth organ renditions that
literally "wowed EN-" as stage
folk are supposed to say. Among
piano accompanies was Helen
Spasoff, attractive daughter of
Mrs. I. M. Spasoff, statistical ex-
pert with the Bureau Of Public
Roads.
Commerce Masons now are look
ing toward the next ladies' night.
s, At least 200 interested employees
turned out last night at the Com.
merce Department auditorium to
hear Albert H. Aronson, chief of
personnel with the Social Security
Boards Bureau of Business Man
agement, most Of which is conferred
in Baltimore for the present.
Mr.. Aronson, who appeared un-
der auspices Of Lodge IL of the
A. F.. G. E., revealed himself as
an excellent speaker, easy to hear
in every part of the hall, and a
speaker well informed on his SUBJ
ject, which embraced dissertation
on transfers, reinstatement and
appeals problems of Government
employees. He answered numerous
questions upon concluding.
Aronson declared personnel Of
ficers in general are completely
behind efforts to establish a real
career service, and would like to
eliminate the blind alleys" in
which so many workers find them
selves after years of effort. In
promotions, he said, he thinks the
best qualified person should be
the ultimate choice, but where all
are equal, persons within a par
ticular agency should get the plum,
rather than someone from another
department.
Discussing minimum and maxi
mum intelligence requirements for
jobs, he drew laugh via mention
of the restaurant chain which
will not hire mattresses with an
intelligence quotient of more than
IS. The question of maximum
limits is serious, however, the
official said, pointing out that if
departments accepted nothing but
college grads and folk Of extra
ordinary ability there would soon
: be considerable dissatisfaction
: among those holding routine jobs
--inasmuch as all could not be
promoted above dreary work.
Among objections to automatic
promotions he said, is the posi-
bility that they would reduce in.
centive among some workers to
increase their efficiency. He also
declared a need for more general
fleXibility in civil service rules
and explained that certification
of eligibleS by the Civil Service
Commission is kept hidden be-
cause of the pressure on officials
which would be attempted by job
seekers when they heard they had
been certified.
Items in Career Notes." a col
umn by Marion Hill in the official
publication of the United Civil
Service Employees:
Il have seen a letter written
by one administrative officer in
forming an employee of demotiOn
on the ground that 1T was recon-
mended by the Bureau of the
Budget" This is apparently a
new one. We had been under
the impression that promotion
within grade and demOtion
within Urn da danandAa annnrd