Evening star., 1937-08-01

TNoUScNtlI Is ali WdSlicu up.
Prospects may never have been
really bright, in view of the growing
job-mindedness Of Congress. and in
two recent developments on Capitol
Hill, 1t has become more apparent that
the future" of civil service is behind
it. unless there is a decided change in
the attitude of those who have the
final say.
The first indication OF the way the
wind is blowing came in colloquy in
the Senate in which Senator Nc
Kellar, Democrat, of Tennessee let it
be known that a civil service sub
committee he heads would continue to
keep bottled up bill. that already has
passed the House, to put postmaster
ships Of first, second and third class
offices-now priced political plums-
under civil service.
Second was the publication of the
hearings by the joint committee on re-
organization, which brought out that
Its members viewed critically the plan
to provide career employment in Gov
ernment by filling all but policy
making" positions through the COM
petitive system.
The postmaster legislation has been
pressed by President Roosevelt for
four years. Primarily, it would make
the postal service career service in
itself-and take 14,548 jobs off the
patronage list.
Part of Roosevelt Plan.
The plan to put Federal employment
as a whole on a career basis was
embodied in the reorganization pro-
gram President Roosevelt sent to
Congress last January, which proposed
to bring under civil service thousands
of positions now exempt. The entire
plan. of course. was stymied by the
court fight, and now, though new
hearings have been decided upon, goes
over to the next session of Congress.
The reception thus far accorded the
personnel provisions in committee,
however, offers no encouragement as
to their ultimate Endorsement
. Prodding by Senator O'Mahoney,
Democrat, of Wyoming, former First
Assistant Postmaster General, dis
closed the status of the postal legis-
lation, after McKellar, chairman of the
Committee on Post Offices and Post
Roads, had asked the Senate to con-
firm, en- bloc, large group of post
master nominees.
The resultant exchange was illu-
minating
Il observe" said OrMahoney, that
there is long list of postmasters who
have been nominated, and the con-
firmation OF whose nominations is
requested Several months ago the
House OF Representatives passed a
bill placing the appointment of post
masters under the civil service. A
similar measure has been introduced
In the Senate, and, as I understand,
Is now pending before the Civil Service
Committee. May I ask the chairman
OF the Committee on Post Offices and
Post Roads what progress is being
made with regard to that proposed
legislation?"
McKellar: Every little progress is
being made in regard to it, for the
reason that a canvass Of the Senate
not of every member Of the Senate, but
OF about so or 60-has disclosed that
but three Senators were mildly in
favor of the bill. I think its strongest
advocate was the Senator from Wyo-
ming tOMahoney): another Senator
who favored the bill was the Senator
from Idaho (Pope-Democrat The
Senator from Maine tWhite-Republi-
cam also indorsed it,"
Mol
Democrat, of Connecticut said Nc
Kellar had not polled him and that
he favored the bill
That makes four Senators in favor
OF the bill" McKellari responded,
prompting Senator King, Democrat, of
Utah - retort that he would try to
''neutralize" that by recording his own
opposition.
Il am quite sure" said McKellar,
"that the Senate is Overwhelmingly
opposed to 1t. However. we are trying
to work out another bill that we hope
will be satisfactory. I do not know
whether we will be able to do So
O'Mahoney Asks About Bill.
O'Mahoney: Mr.. President, may
say that. of course. it is common
knowledge that the President of the
United States several years ago rec
commended that the appointment of
postmasters be made under civil serv-
ice rules, and from time to time, dur
ing the past four years. there has
been considera ton of that suggestion
made by the President I am curious
to know whether the chairman of the
Committee on Post Offices and Post
Roads and ths chairman of the Com
mittee on Civil Service (BuloW-Dem-
ocrat-South Dakota) can give us an
idea as to whether or not the bill to
which the Senator from Tennessee
just q moment ago referred will be
reported at the present session of
Congress-"
Mcclellan: II will be very glad to
answer the Senator, so far as 1 am
concerned. am opposed to the bill"
O'Mahoney: Il understand that that
Is the attitude of the Senator"
McKellar: And so far as I have
gone, think that my colleagues on
the subcommittee are not in favor
Of it."
O'Mahoney: Il think that is very
likely to be true"
McKellar: II think it Is true and
doubt very much whether the bill goes
through at the present session. Does
that answer the Senator's question:"
O'Mahoney: "No, it does not"
McKellar: We'll, I am ready to
answer it If can"
OMahoney: What am anxious to
know is whether the committee in
charge of the bill will give members of
the Senate an opportunity to vote upon
1t by reporting the bill"
McKellar: Does the Senator mean
by reporting it adversely?"
O'Mahoney: by reporting the bill"
Mcclellan: II think the subcom-
mittee will report that particular bill
adversely. That Is my judgment. I
may be mistaken; have been mis-
taken very recently"