The Washington times., 1937-02-13
"Why fool the public?"

null over curing the weekend De-
fore they continue investigating
possibilities of extending civil
service to all Federal workers next
Tuesday morning.
The question was posed by Col.
Charles Stengle, owlish and
chubby little gentleman who holds
the presidency of the American
Federation of Government EN-.
ployeS and who is one Of the
best orators in the Capital.
Stengle, who admitted, along
with E. Eliot Kaplan, Of the Civil
Service Reform League, that
Chairman RamSpeck's idea Of
competitive tests is probably the
most ideal" for bringing politi.
cally appointed emergency clerks
into the classified service, never.
theless held that there are "prac-
tical objections" to such, a pro-
cedure.
He pointed out to Ramspeck'S
group that the recent Stenog.
rapher-typist test (ratings not yet
fully distributed produced 100,-
900 eligibleS for jobs, most of
whom will probably never be
called for service. This, he indi'
Gated, is "fooling the public" and
should not be intensified by fur
ther tests establishing large lists
of unneeded eligibles. He added:
"It would appaI you Con-
gresSmen to estimate the num-
ber of examinations that would
be required, and the cost of
them"
Stengle concluded that his sug
geStion Of a rigid character test
for inclusion was noncompetitiVe
exams would not Offset the ad
vantage of outright competitive
quizzes, but will go a long way
in that direction"
Through Executive Secretary
Kaplan, the Civil Service Reform
League complimented the Civil
Service Commission by saying
that it "has done a fine job" and
should have a so per cent increase
in personnel and appropriations
per year. 1t failed to back the
Commissions definite stand on
behalf of noricompetitive tests,
however, Kaplan, indicating that
they are the second best" method
and pointing out that if New Deal
positions are placed under the
merit system through competitive
examination they will last" un-
touched by future patronage
drives of either Republican or
Democratic administrations.
One of the most vitally needed
institutions in the Government
service, q court of appeals for the
empIcye who feels he has been
badly treated, will be the subject
of a public meeting sponsored by
the Federation Of Architects, Engi'
neerS, Chemists and TechnicianS
February IS at the Central High
School auditorium.
Civil Service Chairman Rams
peck has agreed to speak, along
with Frank R. McNinch, chairman
of the Federal Power Commission;
Edwin Smith, member of the Ma.
tional Labor Relations Board;
Harry B. Mitchell, president of the
Civil Service Commission; John F.
Finerty, defense counsel in the
famous Donovan and Durand
union discrimination" cases; Ber-
nard J. Gehrmann and John T.
Bernard.
The meeting has been slated
principally because Of the recent
Durand case, in which an impair |
tial board of three Government |
officials engaged in labor relations
work decided that the Federal
Power Commission had fired Rob-
ert Durand, a member of the F. A.
E. C. T., for his union activity de-
spite a formal charge of ineffi-
cheney. The Commission was di-
rected to reemploy him, although
no action has been announced on
this line to date.
In announcing the public gath.
ering it was pointed out that a
Government worker can be dis
eliminated against via dismissal, |
demotion or transfer, and that he
"getS in bad" usually because he
IS too active in a union, demands
promotion too strongly or incurS
the personal prejudice Of his Su-
periorS.
The Wanderbird Hiking Club
tomorrow will tour the Fort Du.
pont area, meeting at $50 a. m.
at l416 F st. N. W., and boarding
bus for Pennsylvania and Min
neSota Aves. S. E., from which
members will begin a siX-mile hike.
The total cost for each hiker will
be 40 cents, including a dime for
club dues.
Two new examinations were an
nounced today by the Civil Serv.
ice Commission. National Capital
Parks needs tree surgeons, it was
revealed, the job paying from
$5.04 to $3.50 per day, and will
accept applications until February
18. The War Department Signal
Service at Large also wants main
tenance mechanics who can spe-
cialize on radio communications
equipment. Applications for the
latter positions, which pay $3.50
annually, will remain open until
March 2.
Nanny Neumark is the new pub
licity committee chairman for the
Social SecllritV Board TTnioD- -ooe