Evening star., 1939-05-18
Promotions Laq
In Old Agencies,
.EIIender Told
Probe of Fuvoritism
In Civil Service
Is Renewed

OAAA~SASAAo Ao6 AL Vic IlIlt
agencies while employees in the newer
establishments forge steadily ahead,
it was testified today as Senator
Ellender, Democrat, of Louisiana
resumed his one-man inquiry into
charges of favoritism in Government
service.
This situation was disclosed in the
course of testimony by veteran en-
ployes of the General Accounting
Office, who said they had been
passed over while those with shorter
service had been advanced.
Senator Ellender indicated his be-
lief that some instances where en-
ployes had failed to receive promo
tions might be due to the fact that
they were Gin the doghouse," but did
not press this line.
Apropos of the situation generally,
Senator Ellender said that 'I know
OF some cases where persons who
have been in service (in the older
agencies) 10 or Is years have re-
mained stationary; they seem to do
better in the newer agencies"
David Neumann, chief of claims
of the G. A. O., said that sis always
the case" He explained that the
newer agencies are in process OF
organization and that this gives
workers more opportunity. While
the newer groups were being estab-
| lished, in the past few years, he
continued, they competed with each
other for efficient personnel.
In the old-line agencies, he added,
the employees have no such oppor-
tunity.
G.. A. o. Probe Continues.
When the hearing resumed today
after suspension of some dura-
ton, Senator Ellender continued to
probe conditions in the General Ac-
counting Office, a half-dozen men
engaged in railroad rate work COM
planning that they had been passed
by for promotions.
The principal witness was E. E.
Enyart, who came into the Govern
ment in 1917 at $1,000 and now is
getting $4,000. He has been at the
G.. A. O. since it was established in
1921.
Mr.. Neumann and L. E. Noe, chief
OF transportation. were questioned
in detail by Senator Ellender as to
why others with less service than
Mr.. Enyart had received promotions,
and the officers defended these on
the grounds of efficiency
Mr.. Noe said that where efficiency
is equal" promotions are given to
those persons longest in service.
Rate Experts Needed.
Senator Ellender inquired particu-
larly how it was that a number Of
rate men brought into the offi,e
from 1888 to 1886 at entrance SAL
aries of $4,000 were now getting
$1,000, and w. w. Richardson, chiet
OF personnel, said that the group
were experts with railroad expert
ence who were needed when they
were hired, and that they had been
advanced in accordance with their
capabilities.
The Louisiana Senator said that
he had about Is cases of this sort
and believed he could find 500"
Mr.. Neumann agreed with this, but
said that would not be confined to
the transportation section. 1t was
at this juncture that the discussion
turned to conditions over the serv-
ice as whole.
Joe Paxton, an elderly employe of
the office, who said he did not know
why he had failed to advance, inter-
Jected bitterly while the question of
the newcomers was being debated:
who taught them the routine Of
the office? The older heads. Who is
teaching them now? The older
heads"
In two instances where Employees
j. A. Schwartzer and Arthur j.
Connor complained. officials said ef-
forts now were being made to have
their positions reclassified.