Evening star., 1938-08-23
RAMSPECKFLAYS
USE Of j. s. Jobs
IN VOTE FIGHTS
Georgian Raps Controlled
Politics in Talk to Mail
Carriers.
URGES LIBERALIZED
RETIREMENT SYSTEM
Advocates Larger Benefits and
Widows Annuities-Farley
Addresses Convention.

Denouncing the spoils system. Rep
resentative Ramspeck, Democrat, Of
Georgia told the delegates to the 35th
annual convention of the National
Rural Letter Carriers Association at
Constitutional Hall today:
How can men elected to Congress
have any respect for the merit system
when their own success is obviously
due to the sort of politics we have wit
messed in recent months-with State
and Federal machines using jobs ruth
lessly?"
This back-handed slap at controlled
politics by man from the same State
as Senator George, whose political
career the President recently asked
Georgia voters to end, came shortly
before Postmaster General Farley. the
New Deal political general, made a
strictly non-political speech to the
rural letter carriers.
The national merit system Is built
on sand so long as Representatives
are sent to Congress as result of the
local operation of spoils systems, Mr..
Ramspeck said. The operation of the
merit system is almost universal in
the postal service.
Urges Retirement Reforms.
Representative Ramspeck is chair
man of the House Civil Service Com.
mittee
A lioeralized retirement system for
Government employees under civil serv.
ice, with considerably larger benefits
and initiation of a widows annuity
system, was urged by Mr. Ramspeck.
The pressure for better retirement
payments is wholly justified" he said.
ANY new benefits should, however,
be paid for by the employees themselves
during the years they are working"
the Representative contended AT
present the Federal Government con.
tributes more than the worker"
He said he would press for legisla-
ton affecting more than 100000 under
civil service and some groups not COW
cred by the merit system.
Il cannot see that widows of Gov
ernment workers deserve a Govern
ment pension any more than survivors
Of workers in private industry" he
said in regard to demands for such
legislation.
"A more practical plan is an insur-
ance annuity program, in which en-
ployes build up fund which they may
designate to beneficiaries upon their
DEATH" he said
Postmaster General Farley spoke
briefly to the 1000 delegates of the
association and its auxiliary. The
business OF delivering mail to country
folk is an indispensable" part of the
New Deal program, because it tends
to elevate and improve country life,"
he declared.
THE ever-increasing migration Of
people from the rural districts into
urban centers is one Of the most i'm.
portant problems that confronts our
country" he declared. 1T is unneces-
sary to remind you carriers Of its
blighting effect-empty houses, un-
kempt yards, idle farms.
Agricultural conditions In this
country must be improved and rural
life made attractive if we are to main-
tain our economic stability and pre-.
serve our civilization"
Start of Service Recalled.
Mr.. Farley recalled that when rural
mail service was inaugurated at the
end of the last century there was
strong opposition to it as being fan
tastic in the extreme"
Lawmakers felt the cost would be
out of all proportion to the benefits
derived, would bankrupt the Govern
ment.' Country merchants were op-
posed to it because they feared the
loss Of business to the mail order
houses and postmasters at the small
Offices were apprehensive that their
offices would be discontinued" Mr..
Farley said.
The convention also was addressed
by Wheeler McMillen. chairman of the
National Committee on Rural Scout
ing, Boy Scouts of America, who
came from New York to speak.
Asserting that 'ln only two Amer
ican cities are enough babies being
born to replenish their population"
Mr.. McMillen said boys now living in
the country will lead the Nation in the
future. He pleaded with the delegates,
"as leaders of rural communities" to
join the scouting movement and train
country boys in its discipline.
With Mr.. Farley at their head, the
members of the association and its
auxiliary marched from Constitution
Hall to the White House when the
morning session ended shortly before
noon. Bands brought from Ohio,
Texas and Tennessee played on the
route.
Arrived on the White House lawn,
the delegates posed for their official
convention picture.
Delegates were to spend the after.
noon sightseeing and attending tree
dedication ceremonies at 4:30 pm. at
the Sylvan Theater Country soil from
48 States and water from the Atlantic
and Pacific Oceans and the Great
Lakes will be left in the earth Of
Washington.
A grand ball was held last night
at the Mayflower Hotel. Tomorrow's
program includes business sessions in
the morning and a banquet in tho
main ball room Of the Mayhower at
7:30 pm.
VT