The Washington times., 1937-01-19

eral folk interested in such phOtOs or
should contact the writer in the edi-
torial room by 5:15 p. m. or phone
District 1000, branch 21O.
Three reasons for his inSiStence
on competitive examinations in
his bill to extend the merit system
to emergency employees have been
given by Representative Rams
peck. chairman of the all-impor-
tant House Civil Service Commit
tee.
Speaking recently in celebration
of Civil Service Week, he admitted
that in this respect" he was at
variance with the recent Brown
low report, and gave the following
salient points for his stand.
/. Most present employees not
under Civil Service were selected
without amy recommendations OF
any person responsible to the vot-
ers." friendship and relationship to
officials counting most heavily.
2. Such workers "are not prop
erly distributed between the States
in some agencies"
8. In many cases employees OF
superior ability are in minor posi-
tions working under persons OF
less ability.
He said:
by requiring competitive ex.
aminatiOnS for all positions
brought under the Civil Service
law. we give an opportunity for
present employees to better their
positions. They would not have
that opportunity if nOn-cOmpeti-
tive examinations are permitted
because they would all be ex-
amined only for their present
positions"
Nevertheless, employe leaders
see Mr.. Ramspeck's stand as rather
battling, inasmuch as he has de-
MED any legislation-particularly
on retirement-that would in
crease the Government cost. Com
petitive tests for 325,000 emer-
gency workers would be enormous,
it is admitted at the Civil Service
Commission. 1t is said there would
be about 1,700 types of tests to give
with more than $4,000 grades with
in them. And the number of "out-
side" applicants for the jobs now
held by $4,000 incumbents could
probably be estimated in the mil
lions.
Susan A. Marshall, Albert J. Nc
Curdy, Cornelius McKinSey, Robert
Phillips and Columbus Scott will
be retired from Government Print
ing Office at the end Of the month.
The leading trio had 80 years Of
service. Mr.. Scott one less, and Mr..
Phillips IS.
The new president Of the Com
merce A. F. G. E. Lodge is William
Copley, succeeding Leonard Kemp
who in turn became District De-
partment delegate and a trustee.
Fred Hutchinson was elected sec
retary with James Copeland treas
urer.
Sorrow remains at the Civil Ser
vice Commission over the recent
death of Mrs. Elizabeth Fox, who
had served since 1917 as a disburs-
ing officer until the office was dis
continued, then had switched to
an examining post. Friends say
she was acquainted with almost
every disbursing officer in the
field. Surviving are husband
and a sister.
Joseph D. Cooper, Agriculture's
peppery social maestro and editor,
has begun work on the second edi-
ton of "Employe Activities" the
annual descriptive issue that eX-
cited much favorable comment
when inaugurated. Joe's second is
sue is to be printed and copyrighted
and will include quite number OF
large photographs. It will also be
somewhat larger than the first
issue.
A funny one Except to the COM
plainant) emerged at the Comp.
troller Generals office recently. A
Forest Service blasting project
caused two boulders to diSlodge,
bounce down a grade in st. Joe
National Forest and crash right
through a gentleman's house.
House, furniture and mostly every
thing were completely crushed.
The house owner promptly pre-
sented claim on the Government
and asked only $147.21, with an
additional $40 for cleaning and
laundry" the amount of damage
being determined by comparison
of the articles destroyed with the
catalogue prices of SearS-Roebuck
and Co., from whom they were
purchased last December"
. Despite its meagerness. the
claim was denied and must be pre-
sented to Congress.
FederaIitieS-Just a year ago:
E. Claude Babcock had left st.
Nicholas Rink in New York by fire
escape, when sirens alarmed $500
a. Florida State Society's recep-
ton for Governor Fred Cone is
launched today, 4 to 6, at the
Washington =. and Carson Hath
away, Civil Service personnel
chief, will distribute some real in
formation to Lodge II, A. F. G. E.,
at the I.C.C. Building, 8 p. m.
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