Evening star., 1939-05-19
Elender Recesses
CivilService Probe
After 6. A. 0. Quiz
office Romonces' Held
Respons : for Number
Of Married Workers

The Ellender investigation into
allegations of unfair employment
practices in Government service was
in an indefinite recess today after
another lengthy session devoted to
conditions in the General Account
ing Office.
At the conclusion of yesterdays
hearing, in which a number of COM
plants were aired, Senator Ellender,
Democrat, of Louisiana, who is con-
Quoting the probe, announced other
matters had come up that would in
terfere with his plan to go ahead
today and that the inquiry would be
resumed when possible
After a morning session devoted
to the charges of a half-dozen men
on rail rate work that they had been
passed over in promotions, the hear
ing yesterday afternoon turned on
the question of employment of mar
ried couples by the G. A. o. and
brought the explanation from w. w.
Richardson, personnel officer. that
"ofnce romances" were responsible.
- Can't Stop Romance.
n you can't stop = them" he
chnckled, as Senator Ellender called
OF the names Of the couples and the
salaries they received.
+ Senator Ellender asked how GER
tain couples had escaped the marital
status ban in the celebrated section
2l3-since repealed-of the economy
law, under which the dismissal of
one spouse was required when forces
were reduced. and Mr.. Richardson
said it was due to the fact that no
cuts were made in the work they
were on, although they were effected
elsewhere in the office.
Mr. Richardson brought out in
this connection that former Con-
troller General John r. McCarl had
contended that in reducing his force
he had the option of using eitfe-
section 213 or the involuntary re-
tirement section of the law under
which employees of 80 years service
could be dropped. He was over
ruled by Attorney General Cum
mings, however, who said married
persons must go first, and in con-
sequence, 81 persons not separated
according to this principle were or
dered returned to duty.
Told of Being Dropped.
One of these, James C. Bibb, now
a transfer examiner in the Interior
Department, testified to being
propped by the accounting Office.
Mr.. and Mrs. George D. Billings
and Mr.. and Mrs. William r. Stew
art, who are in the G. A. O.. were
asked by Senator Ellender if they
had made any effort to escape dis
missal under 213; he was assured
they had not.
The Louisiana Senator also ques-
toned briefly George T. Montgom-
cry of the G.. A. O., whose wife
was formerly aide to Controller
General McCarl and now is in the
latter's law Office. The Senator
evinced curiosity as to whether thei'
joint income is now as great as
when Mrs. Montgomery was in
Government service, but deferred
to the request of the witness to be
excused from answering. .
Questioned About Nepotism.
Senator Ellender asked how effec-
lively nepotism figures in advances
in the accounting Office, and Mr..
Richardson denied it had any bear
ing Again list was produced by
the Senator to show employment OF
more than one member of the same
family.
Mr. Richardson, in response to a
question, said he had obtained po-
sition in the G.. A. o. for Early T.
Bohannon, a second cousin, and en-
phasized that a recent promotion
for the latter had been made
through an official who was not
aware Of the relationship.
Mrs. Myrtle Martin, an assistant
auditor, recounted difficulties with
her superior, Mrs. M. A. Wills, and
brought q defense from the latter.
e. w. Bell. chief of the audit divi-
sion, and j. G. Nevitt, assistant chief,
said Mrs. Martin was not adapted to
work from which she had been re-
neved-ar1d which formed basis for
t,A,. nes,, y,loi,,t