Evening star., 1937-11-20
BILL ON j. s. Jobs
GIVEN TO HOUSE
Randolph Measure Would
Open Service to Aspirants
Between as and 55.
By WILL p. KENNEDY.


Claiming he has the support Of
Chairman RamSpeck Of the House
Civil Service Committee, Representa-
tive Randolph, Democrat, of West Vir-
ginia today introduced his promised
bill to open up the Federal service to
qualified aspirantS for positions be-
tween the ages of As and 55. His bill
also would require 10 years of service
to become eligible for retirement, in
stead of Is years as at present.
I intend to exert my best efforts
TO get this legislation passed as soon
as possible" Mr.. Randolph said. Il
will press for hearings before the close
OF the special session so that We may
have the measure ready to be pre-
sented to the House in the early days
OF the regular session which opens in
January. l regret exceedingly that
the necessity of concentrating on the
Presidents program in the special seS-
sion prevents the House leaders from
giving right of way to this humani-
toi idii 1loNCNCl, L dlll as -
sured of the sympathy and support of
Chairman Ramspeck and other men,
bers OF the House Civil Service Com
mittee"
Fate of Bills to Be Watched
Fate of any civil service measures in
the special session will be watched by
many prominent members of the
House, who have been unable to get
definite assurances from Speaker
Bankhead or Chairman Ramspeck that
legislation to benefit Government en-
ployes will receive consideration.
Before leaving Washington last
night to visit his ailing mother in
Georgia, Chairman RamSpeck said
L have not yet learned from the
Speaker and House Leader Rayburn
whether any civil service legislation
Will be allowed time in the House this
session. I believe we should do some
thing along the line of the Randolph
bill in the regular session in jan
uary. I do not yet see my way clear
TO start any hearings on civil service
measures, because I must devote my
attention first 10 the wage and hours
bill which Is one of the four most
urgent measures on which the Presi-
dent called this special session.
If any hearings are held by my
committee this session they will take
up first the minimum wage bill. which
provides tina, no regular employe shall
receive less than $1,000, and the sub
Ject of revising the retirement law
These two subjects have been pend
ing since the last session and merit
first attention because they affect
more employees and grant a greater
measure of prompt relief"
Makes Public Letter.
Mr. Randolph made public last
night his letter to the Civil Service
Commission in which he urged it
throw the full weight OF It's support
to concerted drive to remove the
discrimination which forbids men and
women past the age Of As from quail
flying for civil service positions in the
Federal Government" He told the
cOmmiSSion
1t has become increasingly ap-
parent that this discrimination against
those who are. in the full vigor Of
mental and physical powers and who
have had valuable experience should
be ended. I have given careful study
to the possibility of legislation to
eliminate this penalization and it is
my plan on tomorrow to introduce a
measure to correct this evil. Private
industry can now say that it does not
hire workers past the age of As for
the reason that the Federal Govern
ment itself follows such a practice.
The Federal Government should lead
the way in giving to our citizens the
opportunity of becoming eligible for
work at least until the age of S."