The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-12-21
WILL SEEK TO
END 'SPOILS'
JOB HOLDING
AT Least 3 Bills Will Be
Offered to Smash Old
Political System
By GARNETT D. HORNER
Copyright by United Press

WASHINGTON, Dec. 81. CUP.
A Drive to smash the political
"spoils" system under which more
than 100000 government en-
ployes hold their jobs, will be
launched early in the new con-
greSs.
At least three bills to bring most
federal job holders under civil
service merit rules have been pre-
pared for introduction ut start Of
the session. Their sponsors are
confident of prompt, favorable ac-
ton.
Representative Robert Ram
speck, D., Ga, chairman Of the
house civil service committee,
claims administration support for
his measure which would give the
president authority to bring any
governmental agency under the
merit system, regardless of pres
ent legislative bans.
81 feel confident it will pass in
view of the fact that President
Roosevelt favors it and the plat
forms of both major parties con-
tanned planks advocating extern
sion Of the civil service" RAM
speck told the United Press.
Senator NJ. NJ. Logan, d., ky-
sponsor of a different measure,
said he is convinced the prospects
are "much better" for passage OF
patronage-smashing legislation. He
foresaw little difficulty in agree
ing on the various proposed meth
DDS of extending the merit system.
Reluctance of congressman to
give up their patronage power to
reward supporters with federal
Jobs has been the chief obstacle
to extension of the merit system:
Senator Logan said he believed
that now, however, most members
would be glad to be relieved of
the increasing heavy demands by
job seekers.
Logan advocates blanketing in
to the civil service all government
agencies now excluded by law ex-
cept those that might be exempt.
ed by the president, instead of
merely giving the president au-
thority to extend the system where
he sees fit.
The chief point of controversy
in the Logan proposals revolVes
about a provision which would al.
low an employee to keep his job If
he passed a non-competitive ex-
animation. Under the Ramspeck
bill, an affected jobholder would
have to take his chances in an
open competitive examination.
Senator Joseph c. O'Mahoney
D.; Wyo., will introduce a bill
similar to Ramspeck's exce2! that
it would forbid placing any of the
emergency agencies created by the
New Deal under the civil service
system.
az do not think that under the
guise of civil service law we
should make these emergency bu,
reaus permanent" O'Mahoney
said. al do think something will
be done to apply the merit system
to permanent agencies, however,
Both house and senate civil
service committees are expected to
hold hearings early in a drive fol
prompt action.
The Democratic platform pledg,
es the administration to "imme.
date extension Of the merit sys.
tenn through the classified civil
service to all non-policy making
positions in the federal service
Most of the emergency New
Deal egencies were exempt from
the civil service law when they
were created because of the need
to fill positions swiftly. The cut
the proportion of federal employ
es under civil service from 80 per
cent in 1888 to about go per cent
this year.
OF the 824,259 government job
holders listed on June 30, 1886,
total of 498,725 were under the
civil service competitive merit
system and 325,534 were still sub
iect to unrestrained political pat
ronage.
Applicants for. those jobs under
the classified civil service must
pass competitive examinations
The three highest ranking applii-
cants then are certified as eligl-