Evening star., 1937-09-08
RAMSPECK SCORES
M'KELLAR ON BILL
Hits Postmaster Measure
Tie-up-To Take Fight
to Tennessee.
6Y J. A. FOX.
Sraf n Correspondent of The Star.

SrHlNo HILL, ILL.,, Septemper o.
Assailing Senator Mckellar, Demo-
crat, of Tennessee for tying up the
bill 10 put postmssters under civil
service. Representa- tive Ramspeck.
Democrat, of Georgia, chairman of
the House Civil Service Committee. TO-
dav told the National Federation OF
Federal Employees that ne proposed TO
go into Tennessee and scousint NC
kellars constituents with the situa-
zion.
R'smspeck's attack came in The
course of an address at the Fedora
tion's twentieth Jubilee convention in
which he criticized the increasing ten
dency TO seek control of Government
Jobs and also paid his respects 10 the
House for continued exemptions Of
new agencies from civil service.
The Georgia Representative was ap-
pisuoed frequently by the delegates
explaining that the post master
bill had passed the House. Rsmspeck
added: 1t is now resting on the
ample bosom OF the senior Senator
from Tennessee Senator NICK elIsr-
the ranking Democrat OF the Senate
Civil Service Committee.
Win Go 10 TENNESSEE
Il said ample BOSOM he continued
but / mean, rather. in the bip pocket.
| bhInk he Is sitting on IL. When a
public official uses his position 10
sti1e legislation / say that oficisl is
legitimate subject Of criticism. and
| want the people OF the country TO
know l resent such Ia cJics. | don't
have 10 come up here 10 saw that
Next week ! am going to Nashville.
Tenn, and repeat it."
Ra mspeck declared his belief thai
tine backbone of Bhe spoils system will
never be broken in this country until
we take the posumasters out OF pol
tics
The Georgian described as danger
Gus the passage by the Senate of so
many measures providing for Senate
confirmation of low-salsri ried super
visory positions Policy forming posi-
lions legltimately should be subject 10
Senate approval. he said, but the
Senate is attempting to go far beyond
this"
To give The Senate control of these
supervisory positions, Ramspeck said
means that this control will be ex
tended further into The rank and 6le
Of Government employment.
This ought 80 be stopped ne as
serted.
Hopes Tor Hilrs Passage.
RsmSpeck said he hoped for passage
early in the next session of Congress
OF The bill setting q $1,000 minimum
for adult employment, in order that il
might become effective by next july /.
He was warm in his praise of the
Civil Service Commission and de-
ciareo that snv shortcomings in the
present Civil Service set-up are NOT
the fault of that BODY.
The convention proceeded TO-DAY
with consideration of the mass of
resolutions dealing with Federal en-
ployes. One proposal supported was
for the ests blishment of an ADEQUATE
promotion system, with higher grade
positions being filed within the service
where possible, rather than from the
outside.
In The opening session of the
convention YESTERDAY, the federation
adopted series of resolutions for i'm
proved working conditions. These mi
ciuoeo support OF McCsrran bin for
$1,000 minimum wage in the classified
service: shorter work week. and an in
crease of annual leave from Is 70 so
oays
Wage Appcrr'onmeni Repeal
In another resolution sponsored by
group Of Washington locals. the
federation called for repeal of the
apporrlonmeDt provision of the civil
service law. describing this section,
which is designed 10 spread Govern
ment employment among the States on
The basis Of population, as sayorins
Of the spoils system.
The convention voted support of the
Roosevelt reorganization program in
so far as it provides for extending
civil service through the Government
establishment, but objected 10 q pro-
VISION OF the Robinson bill to make it
effective, which would require the ap-
provsl OF administrative officers before
any employe could take an exsmina-
tion 10 acquire civil service status.
Independence Res ff3rmed.
In another resolution, the fedora bion
reiterated its stand IN favor OF main
tanning an independent status. There
was no discussion OF this question.
which sppsr rently came up as the re-
suit of some far-fetched speculation
on the possibility of af1hation with
the c. l. o.
Gov. Henry BorDer was conven-
ton visitor lste Yesterday afternoon.
greeting the delegates