Evening star., 1939-03-28
Senators Probe
Civil Service
Charges
Cuse Of Alleged
Discrimination to
Be Aired Today
By GARRETT u. HORNER.

BY GARNETT d. HORNER.
Evidence concerning alleged "bu-
reaucratic czarism" and discrimina-
ton against a Government worker
seeking promotion was scheduled to
be laid before a special Senate in
vestigating committee today.
Senator Ellender, Democrat, of
Louisiana, chairman of the COM
mittee investigating charges of
favoritism In the Government serv-
ice to lay the groundwork for cor
rective legislation that he hopes will
help provide "a real merit system -
said eight witnesses had been sum-
moned to testify about a particular
case he considered typical of many.
The case involves a young lady
who vainly sought promotion in q
Government department, was repri-
manded for asking advice of the
Civil Service Commission on how to
win the promotion and was saved
from a summary trial" for insub-
ordination only by his intervention,
Senator Ellender said.
He declined to give specific details
about the incident or make public
the names of witnesses in advance
OF their appearance before the COM
mittee at 2 pm, however, for fear
efforts might be made to keep them
from testifying.
Pretty Girl Case Next.
tomorrow, Senator Ellender said
he expects to present testimony that
a 6O-year-old Government official
promoted a pretty girl" three
grades over the heads of numerous
other workers who ranked ahead of
her in the classified service, in order
to keep her employed in his office
AS public hearings in the investi-
cation authorized last year opened
yesterday. Senator Ellender said he
had obtained assurances from the
heads OF "a main departments and
agencies that there would be no re-
prisals against employees who testi-
fled before the committee. and added
that I'VE will protect them" if any
reprisals should be attempted. He
said several prospective witnesses
had asked to be excused because Of
fear they would get into trouble
with their bosses.
The first hearing yesterday was
given over to testimony by the three
members Of the Civil Service Com
mission-Harry B. Mitchell. presi-
dent; Lucille Foster McMillin, and
Samuel H. Ordway, jr.
The commissioners agreed that
much to improve conditions in the
Government service was being done
under President Roosevelt's execu-
tive orders of last June, which pro-
Nded for setting up personnel man.
agement divisions in all the depart
ments and agencies.
Differ on Appeals Body.
Mr.. Mitchell and Mr.. Ordway dis
agreed, however, over the need TO,
a board of appeals to review employe
grievances. Mr. Mitchell advocated
use of the Civil Service Commission
machinery to investigate and settle
employe complaints, with an over
all appeals board in Washington thai
might or might not be independent
OF the commission. He pointed out
that the commission has representa-
tives throughout the country, and
that some seven-eighths of the Gov
ernment employees are in the field.
Mr.. OrdWay contended. however
that proper administration of the
personnel divisions would do away
with the need for an appeals system
because 1t would wipe out the causes
for complaints.
THE greatest forward step for this
Whole reform movement" Mr.. Ord
way said, would be to implement
speedily the personnel divisions 50
they can get along. Now, we have
only the shadow of the needed set
up" He said the need was for money
to finance the new divisions, and
that he understood appropriation
estimates would be submitted to the
Budget Bureau soon.
Mr. Ordway also urged passage OF
a Civil Service law with teeth In
It," including authority for the Civil
Service Commission to audit all
Government pay rolls and stop pay
in cases of appointments or promo
tions in violation of the merit system
regulations. and improvement of the
efficiency rating system.
Authority Already Given.
The present system leaves the
rating of employees too much up tc
the subjective judgment of the
supervisors, he said, adding that the
remedy for this lies with the Civil
Service Commission which already
has authority to revise the system.
Mr.. Mitchell said it had been the
constant desire of the Commission
to improve the rating system, but
there was no agreement among the
experts on what constituted a good
system and IF anybody, anywhere
can devise one that will satisfy even
a minority. I'd like to hear about it. ;
All the three commissioners said
machinery for handling employe
grievances to be set up under the
personnel divisions created by the
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