Evening star., 1938-03-02
BY J. A. OIEARY,


Substitution of single administra-
tor for the present bipartisan three
member Civil Service Commission was
attacked today by Senator Walsh.
Democrat, of Massachusetts,, as Sem
ate debate turned to that phase of the
administrators reorganization bill
He called the reasons for the change
"flimsy."
Recent addition to the bill of a
seVen-man advisory board to consult
with the new administrator, but with
out authority to act, was termed by
Mr.. Walsh IAN empty gesture to the
friends of the present Civil Service
Commission and those who believe in
the principle of real and effective
and efficient commission
The Massachusetts Senator has
motion pending to strike out the ad-
vlsory board, and has joined with Sen
ators Clark of Missouri and BuloW.
chairman of the Civil Service Commit
tee, in a move to preserve the COM
mission. There is believed to be
strong support in the Senate for these
changes.
No Quarrel With Objective.
At the outset, Senator Walsh en-
phaslzed he Is not quarreling with the
objective of extending civil service up
ward, outward and downward" but
issued serious challenge to the
methods proposed in the pending bill.
He asserted the authority given the
President to extend the classified civil
service positions not now covered is
not mandatory, but discretionary.
AS reported, the measure also would
allow the President to exempt from
civil service jobs he decides are policy
making in nature. and fill them by
presidential appointment with Senate
confirmation. Senator Byrnes, Demo-
crat OF South Carolina, has agreed to
drop this, contending there are only ID
positions of that kind not already
subject to executive appointment and
Senate confirmation.
Importance of Feature.
Senator Walsh declared no feature
of the reorganization bill is of greater
Importance than that which deals with
the future status, welfare and I might
add future rights" of 83l 900 Govern
ment employees. Answering the claim
made in support of the bill that the
commission has played "a negative
and passive role" Mr.. Walsh de-
clared.
rs it the fault of the commission,
or is it due to limitations upon their
authority and upon the powers which
now exist through law or executive
order? 1t is perfectly simple to have
a powerful and effective commission
with ample authority if Congress sees
fit to confer the authority upon the
commission and if the Executive ex-
ercises the power, he now has.
If the fault is in the personnel of
the commission the President has the
power to remove them If the fault
is in the lack of initiative and their
lack of extending the merit system, the
fault is in the Congress.
What member of this Congress has
not heard it debated again and again
on this floor the suggestions for in
cooperating in new bureaus and de-
partments the civil service law, only
to have the proposed amendments
rejected?"
Effect of Pending Bill.
Senator Walsh said present law gives
the President, not the commission,
civil service rule-making power, and
that the pending bill would confer the
power on the administrator.
rs the creation of one-man civil
service administrator. appointed for
term of Is years and empowered to
make his own rules, device for plac-
(See REORGANIZATION, Page A-4.l