The Washington times., 1937-07-02

UIIlC6 program reSulJeu.
But anyhow the President tried
to bring together the House and
Senate, SO that the two wings of
the legislative department Of gov
eminent would agree Stories
have been related and printed COW
ering every phase Of the dispute
between 1.-THE Hill" and the White
House, the Supreme Court matter,
adjournment and what-haVe-you,
but the really inside story Is that
the Senate's persistence in NOT
wanting to give up it's privilege OF
putting OK. on poStmaSters IS the
one and only legislative matter con.
sidered at the jefferson Island
rendezvous.
Promised Reform
The Democratic party and the
President are committed to the
policy Of placing first, second and
third class postmasterS under Civil
Service. It is a reform which has
been threatened for years, yet the
old-time practical politician hates
to see it put into practice. He real
ICES that the Civil Service is some
thing to shout for in campaign
time, but political parties have
built largely in the past on an I'M
Outstanding of postmasterS and the
county chairmen would be lost
without them.
The selection Of postmaSterS by
CongreSsmen has generally meant
that the Congressman made one
friend and 20 or more enemies
among those he did not appoint.
It would seem that Congressman
would be glad to be abSolved from
the responsibility Of appointing
postmasters. OF course the PreSi-
dent actually appoints them, but
Congressman recommend whom to
appoint.
Bill Sidetracked
President Roosevelt sent Con-
gress a message on the subject
and the Civil Service status for
all postmasters was included in
the Rarnspeck bill, which passed
the House, and was Immediately
referred to the Post Office Com.
mittee in the Senate, where there
is no Civil Service Committee.
The bill has rested since in
Senate pigeonhole; the Senate
does not like the idea Of losing
that time-honored privilege of
selecting postmasters (for Sena-
tors have a say in the big jobs)
nor does it want to lose the pri-
vilege of putting the OK. or the
veto on these purely political ap-
pointmentS.
So there was a group of Con-
gressn1en talking over this thing
with the President on Sunday
afternoon; they were House mem
bers and had registered q com.
plant against the Senate's mac
ton. In the midst Of this dis.
cussion Senator Mcclellan of
Tennessee approached. He is
chairman Of the Post Office Com
mittee in the Senate and has been
helpful to the politically-minded
solons by pigeon-holing the PreSi-
dents attempt to get the post
office out OF politics.
Greeted Warmly
AS the Tennessee Senator ap-
preached, the President is reported
to have said something like this:
Hello, Mac! We have just
been taking your name in vain"
To which Senator Mcclellan re-
r1liod in fhic vein.
II trust, Mr.. President, you
spoke well Of me-"
The President is reported to
have said that the group was dis
cussing the Ramspeck bill and its
chances of passage. Senator Nc
Kellar said he would be de-
lighted to continue that discus
sion at any time and would hold
himself in readiness for a call
from the Head Man.
Charm Fails To Work
AS a result, Senator Mcclellan
and Chairman Ramspeck, of the
House Committee on Civil Ser
vice were at the White House
Tuesday. They discussed the Ram.
speck bill with the President, but
there seems to be little chance