Evening star., 1938-10-14
M'N|NCH CLAIMS
PRESIDENTS 0. X.
F. C. C. Head Says He Knew
of Changes of Personnel
in Agency.
BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY.

BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEx.
Following the dismissal OF Hampson
Gary, general counsel Of the Federal
Communications Commission, yester-
day by a 4 to 2 vote, Chairman Frank
r. McNinch, who moved to discharge
the attorney and former commissioner,
declared at press conference that he
had the support of President Roosevelt
in personnel changes which had been
made.
The chairman further intimated
he asserted that he had further plans
for the staff" though he would not
say what he had in mind.
Mr. McNinch called the press con-
ference to explain certain actions
which he and the commission had
taken in the last few weeks, including
letter which he wrote to the Civil
Service Commission suggesting exemp-
ton Of certain commission jobs from
civil service.
Chairman McNinch said that he had
talked over the personnel problems in
the Commission with President Roose-
welt, and that the Chief Executive had
told him that he would have his sup
port Mr.. McNinch said, however, that
he had not discussed with the Presi-
dent any matter concerning the men,
bership of the commission, but that
his talks were entirely concerning the
1taff.
Has Further Plans"
After disposing of the dismissal Of
Mr.. Gary, general counsel, Mr.. Nc
Ninch said his further plans" for the
staff will not be long In maturing. He
would not be more definite as to
what his future plans would be. But
he said that as he understood the civil
service law it would not be possible for
him to dismiss any of the present en-
ployes in the groups which he has
asked the Civil Service Commission to
remove from the classified civil service,
without the formality of charges. But
he indicated that in the move to make
the commission more efficient some
jobs could be abolished
As to Mr.. Gary, Chairman McNinch
said he was active in attempting to
and did secure for him another posi-
ton paying the same salary, $4,000,
with the Reconstruction Finance Cor
poration. He said that Chairman Jesse
Jones had said that he could use his
services, but that Mr. Gary fatty re-
fused the position. Mr.. McNinch ex-
planned that he had made no charges
against Mr.. Gary at the commission
meeting, but that the reasons actuat-
ing him to move the adoption of the
order for dismissaD were the ineffi-
clent management of the Law Depart
ment by Mr.. Gary and his lack of ad-
ministrative ability properly to direct
the work of the department"
Positions Seen Affected.
He said his request to the Civil
Service Commission would not affect
so positions, as reported, but he named
So. They were the chief examiner and
seven trial examiners, 80 lawyers,
seven confidential clerks, four secre-
taries and the director of the division
OF information. However, he asserted
that there never was any intention,
by seeking the removal of the positions
from the classified service. to remove
all these employees as unit. He said
that the request to the Civil Service
Commission, if approved, would apply
only to the filling of these positions in
the future. Chairman McNinch added
that no lawyer now employed by the
commission had been taken originally
from the civil service rolls. He said
that several had qualified after they
were employed by the commission and
others had been transferred from other
departments and had civil service
status.
Chairman McNinch disclaimed any
idea of dominating the commission,
but said it was always his policy to
consult the other commissioners on
administrative matters He held, how
ever, that the executive order pro-
posing to blanket employees into the
civil service gave the head of each de-
partment the authority to make the
recommendations, but even with that,
he said, he had referred the matter
to the other commissioners. He said
that there were no personalities in
Volved in the division of the commits
sion over administrative matters, and
that there was no heated discussion
at the three-minute session which re-
suited in the dismissal of Mr.. Gary.
Dempsey Takes Over December Is.
William j. Dempsey, 80, special
counsel to the chairman, will assume
the duties of general counsel on De-
cember Is, at which time his present
salary of $4,000 a year will become
$4,000. He was formerly assistant
general counsel of the Federal Power
Commission when Mr.. McNinch was
chairman of that body, and came to
the communications group as special
counsel to the chairman, later also
being designated as counsel for the
monopoly investigation. Mr.. McNinch
said that as general counsel he also
would be responsible for this hearing
The chairman announced that the
hearings in connection with the mo-
nopoly investigation had been post
poned from october "a to November
IA. He explained that was due to the
fact that large number of organiza-
tions and persons had announced their
intention to appear, and that it would
take considerable time to arrange for
these appearances so that the persons
would not find it necessary to come
here and await two or three weeks
until called to the stand. They will
be notified as to definite dates at which
thew r,aau ho hard