The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-11-07
BRUCE CATIONS
WASHINGTON COLUMN
". s. Senators Fight
For Political Ban
On State Workers

I ditions under which its monew is
spent. That fact given Senators
Nicely and Hatch the leverage they
need.
NEELY STRIKES
FIRST BLOW
Senator Nicely swung into action
first. Last winter he introduced a
bill which would deny federal funds
to any state which did not have In
operation a civil service plan cur
rently approved by the United States
Civil Service Commission. Just to
make 1t alright, Senator Nicely add
ed a section setting minimum
standards that such state plan
must have.
1t must, for instance, give merit
system coverage to every state
employee not holding an elective
office; 1t must bar all state en-
ployes from contributing to politi-
cal funds and from taking part in
political campaigns; and 1t must
provide stiff penalties for any poll
tician who tries to force political
action upon state employees or tries
to collect money from them: and 1t
must provide that no one may hold
q non-elective state job If his wife,
father, mother, brother, sister or
child is an active political worker
The Nicely bill drew practically
no attention - although. If passed,
it would upset just about every
state political machine In the
country. 1t was referred to the
Senate Committee on Civil Service.
There 1t drew the spirited opposi-
ton of Senator Harry Byrd Of
Virginia; but on the final day Of
the spring session the bill was re-
ported out and 1t is now on the
Senate calendar ready to come up
for action.
HATCH PLANNED
DIFFERENT APPROACH
SO little noise did the whole pro-
ceeding make that even Senator
Hatch hadn't heard about It. Mean
while, he was planning to do the
same thing In slightly different
way.
The original draft Of the exist
ing Hatch bill contained section
extending Its coverage to all state
employees In departments operat-
ing wholly or in part by federal
money. (This, of course, would
include all state highway depart
ments. which are normally the
backbone of local machines) vari-
Gus members of the Judiciary
Committee, to which the bill was
referred, doubted that this was
constitutional, and the section was
dropped.
This summer, however, several
If these DIRECTORS told Senator
Hatch that they had got over
heir doubts. Hatch went to At
Lorney General Murphy, who told
him he believed 1t would be per-
Iectly possible to draft such a pro-
vision in a constitutional manner
Hatch then began to prepare such
a bill for submission this winter.
MAY BACK
BILL
About this time he discovered |
the Nicely bill. He Is now studying
IT, to see whether 1t Is preferable to
his own measure; If he figures that
1t Is, he will support 1t instead OF
irafting a bill of his own.
Either way, some bill which would
mock the spoils system out Of state
politics will come before the Senate
his winter.
What the bills chance Of passage
nay be Is an open question. 1t
igures to draw a good deal OF sup
BORT from certain practical-mind-
ID senators who happen to be on
he outs with the governors Of their
tates and who, as a result, might
,e glad to get chance to cripple
he governors machines.
One somewhat cynical estimate Is
hat It could probably get score
# votes in the Senate for that rea-
on alone.
On the other hand, Of course,
he states rights cry Is sure to be
aised against 1t. In any case,
however, the two senators are 60
ng to give 1t a good push. Since
he Nicely bill has already been re-
,orted out of committee 1t will at
east come to q vote.