Evening star., 1937-11-19
TO ENACT
us. W0RKERB|LLS
OPENS IN HOUSE
Bankhead to Be Asked to
Speed Civil Service
Measures.
RAMSPECK PROMISES
TO START HEARINGS
Retirement Change, Lifting of
Age Limit and Minimum Sal.
ary Included in List.
BY WILL P. KENNEDY.

BY WILL P. KENNEDY.
Leading members of the House are
making drive for enactment in the
special session of several measures
designed to improve the condition of
Federal employees. A series of confer
ences with Speaker Bankhead to expe-
dite passage of these civil service
measures is being arranged. Hearings
are to start within two weeks on these
bills, according to promises made by
Chairman Ramspeck of the Civil
Service Committee.
The measures include:
A bill sponsored by Representative
Randolph, Democrat Of West Virginia
to remove the discrimination by the
Civil Service Commission so that men
and women As years or over may be
able 10 qualify for Government jobs.
A similar bill sponsored by Rep
resentative O'Malley. Democrat, of
Wisconsin, which would also change
the retirement requirement from Is
to 10 years of service and would pro-
vide for 25 per cent of the personnel
to be between 40 and SO years of age
and another Is per cent between so
and IS years.
5-Day Week Bill Introduced.
A bill introduced late yesterday by
Representative Mccormack, Democrat,
of Massachusetts, for five-day week
and time and half for overtime.
A bill introduced late yesterday by
Representative Bigelow, Democrat, of
Ohio to provide that Federal and Dis
trict employees grievances could be
. appealed to a referee appointed by
the Civil Service Commission.
Two bills introduced near the close
OF the last session for a minimum
salary Of $1,000 for Federal employees
and to revise the retirement lawson
both of which Chairman Ramspeck
has promised early hearings.
Mr.. Randolph. who is second rank
ing member on the Civil Service Com
mfttee. announced last night he in
tends to push vigorously for a new
deal' for qualified persons IS years Of
age and over. He called on the Civil
Service Commission today to change
It's rules so persons of middle years
may be permitted to qualify, if they
ere able, for Government positions.
Ramspeck's Interest Reported.
He has discussed the subject with
Chairman Ramspeck, who, he said,
showed interest" and he believes he
will be granted a hearing on his bill
as soon as the committee meets. He
also is planning to confer with
Speaker Bankhead to ask that an
opportunity be granted to pass such
a relief measure at the special session.
session.
Mr.. Randolph said that while he
has not yet seen the O'Malley bill
he will cooperate with Mr.. O'Malley
and other members of the House to
get any age discrimination removed.
Now is certainly the time for the
Federal Government to lead the way
In permitting older workers an op-
portunity to show their ability to
hold jobs" Mr.. Randolph said. Il
believe the present practice of the
Civil Service Commission is a penal
tzation upon those still in the full
rigor of their mental and physical
powers, and who have added valuable
experience through years of employ
ment. I have gone beyond the fact
that 1t is bad precedent for the
Federal Government to set in the
selection Of its civilian personnel,
and I have told the commission that
1t stretches out and discourages pri-
vate industry and employment from
giving fair treatment to those against
whom there should be no discrimina-
tion.
Gives Employer an Alibi.
"The private employer is prone to
say today-'I'm only practicing what
the Federal Government is doing in
the requirements for selection Of its
personnel.
The Mccormack five-day week bill
Is similar to one he has been ad-
vocating for several years. The over
time provision would apply to en-
ployes receiving less than $4,000 a
year. Personnel of the armed serv-
Ices are specifically exempted under
kCllAlS VI OtlC Ulll
The Budget Bureau, or separate
boards to be set up by the independent
agencies, would be assigned the task
Of computing the overtime. The time
and half overtime would be op-
tional with the employe who would be
allowed compensatory leave of alb
eence instead. 1t is specifically pro-
vided that the pay of no employe
would be lowered by enactment of this
1neasure-which it. is contemplated
would 60 into effect July l next. It
was referred to the Civil Service Com
mittee.
The Bigelow grievance-appeal bill
provides that If an employe is un-
Justly removed, suspended, denoted,
transferred, or grade unduly delayed
because of race, color, sex, residence,
religion or political beliefs, hear
ing would be called by referee.
If the appeal is granted the referee
would indicate in his report the re-
medal action that should be taken,
and the employe would be allowed
pay for the time lost. This bill also
was referred to the Civil Service