Evening star., 1937-04-23
u. .S.PAY INCREASE
BILL S|DETRACKED
BY SENATE GROUP
Congressional Employees In.
Clusion in Retirement
Plan Backed.
POSTMASTER MEASURE
ACTION is DEFERRED
McCarran Proposal Hearings Held
"1nopportune' in View of
Economy Drive.
BY j. A. O'LEARY.


Inclusion of congressional employes
IN the Government retirement system
and two other minor bills were ap-
proved by the Senate Civil Service
Committee today, but the McCarran
Federal pay increase measure again
was side-tracked
Legislation already passed by the
House to apply civil service to first,
second and third class postmasters
was referred to q subcommittee for
further study after receipt of letter
from Postmaster General Farley. The
letter said there was no objection to
adopting the civil service principle.
but suggested changes in details of
the bill which passed the House in
January.
Although the advisability of starting
hearings on the McCarran pay bill was
discussed at the Executive Committee
session, no action was taken and
Chairman Bulow of South Dakota in
dicated the committee probably would
adhere to its present policy of waiting
until the administration reports its
views on various personnel problems.
The Budget Bureau more than two
months ago requested such delav.
stating that survey of compensation,
retirement and related subjects was
in progress.
Would Hold Hearings.
McCarran, nevertheless, believes the
committee should proceed with hear
lngs, In view of the length of time that
has elapsed since the Budget Bureau
letter was received. He has indicated
his belief that the absence of reports
from the executive branch of the Gov
ernment should not prevent congress
slonal committees from considering
pending legislation.
Following today's meeting. Chair
man BuloW took the view that this
would be an inopportune time to begin
consideration Of the pay bill because
OF the current discussion of reduction
OF Government expenses. The Nc
Carran bill seeks to aid the loWer-paid
Government workers, especially those
receiving less than $500 a year 1t
"SNiN 2AiahN IrCOO llIS LOT
full-time employment.
The legislative retirement bill, al
ready passed by the House, would not
compel Capitol employees to go into
the retirement plan, but would give
them the option of doing so, within
six months from passage of the meas
ure. The other two bills favorably re-
ported are:
To clarity the civil service rule re-
quiring applicants for examination
for appointment in Government de-
partments in Washington to show they
have been legal or voting residents Of
the States from which they apply for
one year.
To extend certain retirement benefits
to a small number of former employees
in the Panama Canal Zone
Postmaster Bill.
The postmaster bill which the House
passed requires filling of vacancies in
the first, second and third class Offices
by appointment Of the incumbent, nom
competitively, or by promotion from
within the postal service, unless the
Postmaster General certifies to the
Civil Service Commission that there is
no qualified person serving in the
vacancy Office available for such pro-
motion.
Farley told the committee "It would
not be practicable or in the interest of
the service to require the Postmaster
General to make any such certifcation
before an open competitive examina-
ton could be requested" His letter
suggested that any legislation EXTEND
ing classified civil service to presiden-
tial postmasters should provide for
filling vacancies by either of the fol-
lowing methods:
CD BY reappointment of the incum-
bent If there be one, through nom
competitive examination; 90 by pro.
motion of classified employe in the
vacancy Office through n-competi-
tive examination; (3) by selection
from an eligible register established
by the commission in accordance with
the Civil Service law, the selection
from such eligible register to be made
in the same manner as selections are
made in filling all other Civil Service
positions.
The requirement that acting post
master appointments be made under
Civil Service rules governing Tempo
rary jobs would not work to good adj
vantage in presidential offices, the
letter stated. The letter suggested that
this be left to the judgment of the
department, with a six-month limit
on acting postmaster appointments.