The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-27
BY J. EARLE MOSER


being wheeled in and out Of
rooms as it attempts to get set, l"
the new Maritime Commission is
somewhat a-flutter.
Nobody seems to be certain of
the status of anything. and some
923 people, who used to feel fairly
secure with the Merchant Fleet
Corporation and U. S. Shipping
Board, are wondering what will
become of them, They must
eventually receive certifiCation for
permanency by recommendation
of their superiors to the Civil Serv-
ice commissioner 90 out.
At this premature time. how
ever. it would appear that out
right firings will be few and far
between.
One reason is that Chairman
Joseph Kennedy is not known as a
firing man" and during the re-
classification and general survey
now being conducted, it is pre-
dicted by those in key positions
under him that every effort will
be made to fit square pegs to
square holes. Another is that
Maritime will face a larger scope
of duties than we're handled by
the Merchant Fleet unit and Ship
ping Board and probably will
grow rather than decrease.
Definitely out, however, will be
those workers who have reached
the Civil Service retirement age.
They can't possibly be transferred
into the merit system, but it is said
they have been allowed to buy an.
nuities under an officially ap-
proved scheme of contributions
from salaries during the past.
What will happen to those merely
approaching retirement limits,
some of whom have toiled eff
GENTLY for two decades, is prob
lematlcal at this point.
Because of its Civil Service limi-
tationS, job-Seeking pressure at
Maritime is not heavy, at least this
far. Heading the personnel office
is E. w. Anderson, a carry over"
from the two absorbed agencies.
He is being aided by Frances B.
Spring, young career woman who
started with the Civil Service Com
mission, worked under Chairman
Kennedy at Securities and Ex-
change Commission and came
along with him to the present
Setup.
Positions exempted from Civil
Service selective methods are, gen.
orally, secretary, five division
heads, a general counsel, clerk
for each Of the five commissioners,
and 48 naval architects, special
experts" attorneys and examiners
"a dozen in each class.
The N. F. F. E. has whooped its
local unions up to the 500 figure,
with a new one in Washington,
headquarters announced yester.
day.
The new District group is No.
GOT, composed Of metal crafts
workers at the Washington Navy
Yard, while field units have been
formed of WPA employees at St.
Paul, st. Cloud and Rochester,
Mimi, and Agriculture workers at
Madisonville, Tex.
Conveniently the successful re.
organization of the local at Gulf.
port, Miss, composed of several
hundred Veterans Administration
people, was announced. Gertrude
McNally, national Secretary.treas-
urer, said yesterday:
"At this time also several more
local unions are in the process
of organization. Charters are
issued, however, only after all
our careful requirements are
met. Locals chartered by the
N. F. F. E. are prepared immedi.
ately to participate activity in
the work of the organization.
We charter no paper unions"
Lack OF care could, indeed, en-
narrasS the organization. It re-
Gently spanked a rival editorially
for pranks INDUCED in by some of
the rivals affiliates, which it is
believed included WPA'S sit-down-
conscious field personnel.
President ROoseveIt's order
against speculation in stocks is
not expected to touch per cent
OF rank-and-file personnel, particu.
larly in the Capital. Where specu.
!ation holds forth, from the ST 800
level downward, it is devoted al.
most exclusively to the turf, and
the turf's popular numerological
offspring. Golf, at 80 much a
hole" and Saturday night poker
also are strong favoriteS, specula-
lively.
-Four examinations have been
announced by the Civil Service
commission. Marketing special
lists and production advisors ex.
per!enced in Indian arts and
crafts are wanted for the Interior
department, $4,000 and $4,000:
the War Department Quartermas-
Ter Corps needs a senior Superin.
tending marine engineer, $4,000,
and an estate tax examiner test
VIII be held for the Bureau of In
ternal Revenue, paying $4,000 for
those who qualify. These tests
close May "a.
Closing May IA is a third class
postmaster quiz for % cities,
among them Brandywine. Md.
Under terms of an Executive Or.
der, the highest qualified elioihIa