Evening star., 1939-05-03
Randolph Presents
Key 10 vote|ess City
To McGovern
Officers and Directors
Of Federal Benefit
Association Dine

The key to "the city that has no
voting privileges" was presented by
Chairman Randolph of the House
District Committee to Patrick Nc
Govern, Omaha, Nebr, president of
the Government Mutual Benefit As
sociation, at the annual banquet for
officers and directors of the group
at the Willard Hotel last night.
lingering the 6-inch key, plated
with 14-karat gold for the occasion,
Chairman Randolph addressed MIR.
McGovern and told him that "the
tiniest hamlet in Nebraska should
have the same privileges as the Ma
tional Capital in Washington. Yet
Washington does not have the priv
tlege of voting.
There are 10000 citizens here
eligible to vote because they have
no voting ties back home. This key
comes from Washingtons citizens,
but not voting citizens.
In the absence of Commissioner
Hazen," exclaimed the District Com
mittee chairman, Il might say this
key entities you to all the preroga-
tives of a visiting fireman in the
Nations Capital"
introduced by Cornwell.
Mr. McGovern is an employe OF
the Post Office Department. He was
introduced to the banquet by j.
Leighton Cornwell, Department OF
Justice, a resident director of the
association, who acted as toaStmas-
ter. Mr.. Cornwell purchased the
key to the city" that was used for
the presentation. Officers and dlrec-
tors of the Federal workers group
are concluding their three-day an
nual session here today.
Speakers were Representative
Randolph and Chairman Ramspeck
of the House Civil Service Commit
tee. Guests included Senator Gill
lette and Representative Harring-
ton of Iowa and Representative NC
Laughlin of Nebraska.
Harry Cooper, United States Sc
cret Service, another resident dl-
rector of the association, announced
the group was considering proposals
for hospital insurance for the faml-
lies of Federal employees.
Mr.. Cornwell cited the Districts
needs for stadium and new Ma
tional Guard armory, terming the
present armory "a disgrace" He
urged Federal employe members OF
the association to support the move
ments for adequate stadium and
armory facilities.
Randolph Speaks.
Chairman Randolph, in an address
before he presented the key to Mr..
McGovern, proclaimed the need for
"a fundamental rededication of our
lives to citizenship responsibility"
and deplored the fact that only ST
per cent of the Nations eligible
voters cast ballots in the 1886 gen.
eral election. He described as
menace the several million aliens
working and living in the United
States and advocated passage OF his
bill to deport aliens who fail to de-
clare intention of becoming Amer
lean citizens within year after
they are eligible.
In discussion of civil service, Mr..
Ramspeck said "the time is ripe to
extend to the 25O,OO0 Federal en-
ployes outside civil service the pro-
lection with which the Civil Service
Act clothes other Government work.
ers." He has introduced bill to
extend provisions of the act to non
civil service workers.
There is a lot to be said for con-
tinuity of service" he said. "The
taxpayers are entitled to the best
service that can be given them. All
employees except those in position OF
q policy-forming nature should be
brought under the merit system
A the conclusion of the banquet
program Senator Gillette played the
piano for brief period of singing by
a number of the guests and associa-
ton officials.