Evening star., 1938-03-27

House opposition by sidetracking
direct action on the great bulk of the
reorganization proposals, especially
the two most controversial provisions
those affecting civil service and the
Controller General.
Minority Leader Smell and minority
members Of the Reorganization Com
mittee-Representatives Taber of New
York and Clifford of Massachusetts
assert that persistent demand will
be made for detailed consideration of
all provisions in the Senate bill.
The House membership desires very
particularly to have careful considera-
ton given to the provision in the
Senate bill, which establishes a ma
tional resources planning board as
a permanent agency. The House has
before 1t separate regional planning
bill. The House Rivers and Harbors
Committee, rejecting the Presidents
original demand, introduced this re-
gional bill creating a national re-
sources board, but limiting it to an
advisory capacity in dealing with
States and localities. This would set
up seven conservation planning re-
glons, with no provision for power
authorities, such as the T. v. A. This
bill was approved by the committee
before 1t was introduced by Chair
man Mansfield. 6
Iamneck Warns House.
The House was warned by Repre-
sentative Lamneck, Democrat. of Ohio
against permitting its full considera-
ton of the reorganization provisions to
be blocked by attacking the omnibus
Senate bill as an amendment to the
House bill and having it sent directly
TO conference. House strategists are
considering what can be done
whether to send the Senate bill to the
House committee and have it re-
ported back for full debate and voted
section by section. or to simply have
the House disagree" and permit it
70 go 10 conference-a packed" con-
terence, the opposition claims.
Many House veterans claim extreme
pressure has been brought to bear
10 force the House to accept the ad-
ministration bill
In anticipation Of the Senate pass
ing the omnibus bill tomorrow REQ
resentative Mead, chairman of the
subcommittee which sponsored the
CIVIL service reorganization bill in The
House, emphasized that those provi-
slons incorporated in the Senate hill
nave the support OF the National
Federation OF Federal Employees. He
pointed out they have urged the ere
atlon OF a civil service administration
with a single administrator to replace
the present three-member Civi. Serv-
ice Commission. However, in con-
nectlon with the Creation of a SIN
gie-headed administration" he ex-
plains, the Federal employees rec
commended the creation of a civil serv-
Ice board. which was contained in the
Mead bill and which is now a par, OF
Senator Byrnes' proposal. The board
Is set up to be watchdog and a
monitor OF our Federal civil service"
Mead Bill Supported.
THE Federal employees are also
strong in support of the provisions
in the Mead bill calling for the ex-
tension of the Classification Act to
cover employees in the field services"
Mr.. Mead emphasized. This has not
been done before. and it will improve
working conditions They also favor
the provision in both bills which aims
to bring within the competitive classi-
f1ed service all positions in all the
permanent departments and agencies
which are at present outside the pur-
view of the civil service laws and
rules. The Mead bill is emphatic on
this point. This provision will wipe
out the spoils system and create a
real career service for all Federal en-
ployes."
Representative Mead has a number
OF amendments sponsored by labor
and by Federal civil service emp,oye
organizations which he intends to
present for consideration when the bill
goes to conference.