Evening star., 1937-11-19
APPOINTED PROBE
SWAMPS OFFICE
EIIender Says Phone Calls
and Messages Pour in
With Complaints.
BY J. A. O'LEARY.

Senator Ellender, Democrat OF
Louisiana, said today he found his Of
fee swamped with phone calls, COM
munications and personal visits in re-
sponse to his request for any COM
plants Government employees may
have of alleged favoritism or discrimi-
nation in promotions.
, Nevertheless, he said, he wants to
go through with the move he launched
yesterday for Senate investigation
into the operation of the civil service
and salary classification laws and ex-
pressed qualification that Chairman
Bulow of the Civil Service Committee
had indicated he was sympathetic to-
ward an inquiry. The Ellender reso-
luton was referred to Mr.. Bulow's
committee for preliminary report be-
fore Senate action, and the chairman n
said he would call a meeting soon.
The Louisiana Senator said one
member of his clerical force was kept
busy today answering the telephone
calls alone He reiterated his object is
to strengthen the merit system and
make it effective.
Postmaster Question Revived.
simultaneously, congressional atten-
ton again was focused today on the
controversy over whether first, second
and third class postmasters should
ho hrO,Ioht Y,tn ho ,fy,;1
service system or continue to be
appointed subject to Senate confirma-
ton for four-year terms.
Senator McKellar, Democrat, of
Tennessee, who contends a member Of
Congress is in better position to
than civil service clerk in Wash
ington would be-" introduced a new
bill to retain the system of senatorial
confirmation of postmasters. He an
nounced the Post Office and Post
Roads Committee, of which he is
chairman, will meet to consider the
measure Tuesday.
Under the McKellar bill, when
vacancies occur one of three steps
could be taken-appoint the in
cumbent, promote a classified civil
service employe in that post Office or
the Postmaster General could recon-
mend to the President any one of
the three highest eligibles from an
open competitive examination. The
Senate, however. would continue to
confirm the appointee thus selected
for four-year term, and members
OF Congress would continue to have
the opportunity to make a recon-
mendation.
Differs from Ramspeck Bill.
This measure differs sharply from
the Ramspeck bill, which passed the
House last January. but is tied up in
the Senate Civil Service Committee.
The Ramspeck bill provides that here
after first, second and third class post
masters would be appointed without
fixed term, and under the civil service
law.
Incumbents giving satisfactory serv-
ice would complete their present terms.
At that time the place would be filled
by reappointment and classification,
non-competitively, of the incumbent,
or by promotion of civil service en-
ploye in the postal service, unless the
Postmaster General certified there was
no employe qualified for promotion in
the vacancy office. The House bill is
designed to take postmasterships out
OF the realm of political appoint
ments.
II the Senate took up the House
bill and amended it by substituting
the language of the new McKellar pro-
posal, the entire subject would 20 to
conference between the two branches
for adjustment.
McKeIlar to Press His Bill.
Senator McKellar said last night,
however, he plans to urge his bill as
a separate measure and send it to
the House. This probably would re-
suit in both bills being left pending
at opposite ends of the Capitol.
Chairman Bulow of the Civil Serv-
ice Committee conferred yesterday
afternoon with Chairman Mitchell of
the Civil Service Commission regard
ing the postmastership legislation. At
present, postmaster appointees are
being selected through the civil serv-
ice system, by executive order of the
President, but still subject TO sena-
torial confirmation.