Evening star., 1937-09-10
NF.F. {. RENAMES
OFFICERS AFTER
SINGLE CONTEST
Californian Fails to Win
Post of Sixth Vice
President.
SAN FRANCISCO CHOSEN
FOR 1889 CONVENTION
Delegates Prepare to Leave for
Homes-Reform Legislation
Program Is Approved.
BY J. A. FOX,
Gar Eorrocnop don't af The Cfar


SPRINGFIELD, September 10
With officers chosen for the next two
years and San Francisco selected fol-
the biennial meeting in 1899, the Ma
tional Federation of Federal EN-
ployes prepared today to wind up the
affairs of the twentieth jubilee con-
vention and adjourn.
BY acclamation, the delegates yes
terday afternoon returned to office
Luther c. Steward. president of the
organization almost from its incep-
ton, and Gertrude McNally, secretary
treasurer for many years. The nine
vice presidents also were reelected, a
contest developing only for one place
Advanced as the candidate of Western
members, Ray Saxton of San Diego,
president of the California fedora
ton, sought the sixth vice presidency,
held by William NJ Rapsher of Phila-
delphia, but was defeated, 1919 to 140.
Other incumbents reelected were:
John Fitzgerald New York, first vice
president; Lee R. Whitney, Milwau-
kee, second; Charles L, Wiegand, Bal
timore, third; DR.. Walter P. Taylor,
College Station, Tex, fourth, Ulrey j.
Biller, Washington, fifth; George l..
Evans, Denver, seventh; Arthur Joach-
inns, Seattle, eighth, and Vaux Owen,
Atlanta, ninth.
Battle on Convention City.
A spirited battle developed in the
selection of the next convention city.
San Francisco, Atlantic City, San An
tonic, Newark and Newburgh, N. Y,
sought to get the meeting, but all but
the first two were eliminated on the
first roll call. On the second. the
Pacific Coast city wen, 179 to l22, over
its Eastern rival.
The convention reiterated the policy
of the federation in opposition to
striking by Government workers, and
IN another resolution revived memories
of the so-called through at 40' row
that the Civil Service Commission
stirred with Congress couple of years
ago. in reducing maximum age limits
for examination applicants.
Fear Career Service Handicap.
Declaring that "the appointment to
the lower grades of candidates for
the Government service who already
have attained middle age operates
against the full and favorable develop
ment of a career service in the Fed
eral service and besides, is extremely
costly to the Government" the resolu-
ton favored restrictions to relatively
young candidates of appointments to
lower grades in the service except in
emergency"
When the commission brought down
age limits, it contended also that it
was in the interest of economy, point
ing out that thousands of persons
getting along in years actually would
be barred from appointment because
administrative officers would be loath
to take them from civil service reg
listers.
The convention indorsed all civil
service reforms proposed to President
Roosevelt in his message to Congress
last January, and urged several addi-
tional betterments on their own, in
cluding a more adequate promotion
system; waving age limits to permit
any person with five years civil service
employment to take any examination
for transfer, and proposing to ban use
of military personnel in positions
that civilians could fill.