Evening star., 1939-04-22
E|Iender Body Hears
Of Job Pressure by
Congressman
G. A. O. Civil Service
Announcements
Under Fire

The Special Senate Committee in
quiring into administration Of the
merit system by Government bureau
heads received further reminders In
today's testimony that members Of
Congress write to the departments
in behalf of employees.
Replying to yesterdays complaint
by Roy r. G. Cockings Of the Gen
eral Accounting ONCE, that he had
been Disseminated against in pro-
motion, w. w. Richardson, personnel
officer Of the agency, read a letter
by former Representative Lamneck
of Ohio, written in November, 1887,
in behalf of Mr.. Ceckings.
ITS a sad thing if any of you boys
and girls in the service have to re-
sort to your Congressman" Senator
Ellender, Democrat, of Louisiana,
chairman, observed.
Earlier, the chairman said that
Unless we can have q real merit
system, I would rather go back to
the old days" He emphasized, how
ever. that he wanted the merit
system.
]. L. Baity. executive officer and
assistant to the controller general,
also elaborated today on his state
ment that many Representatives
and Senators get in touch with the
G. A. O. in behalf of employees seek
ing temporary emergency appoint
ments.
Letters Passed on.
Mr.. Baity testified he gets more
letters from members of Congress
than from anybody else.
If we can appoint any one
friendly to them, we're glad of it,
said Mr.. Baity. He expressed con-
fldence, however, that no one had
been appointed on the recommends
ton Of Senator or Representative
without first having been found
fully qualified by the personnel Of
ficer. He again related how the
letters are merely passed on to the
personnel ofncer.
Mr.. Baity, in reply to questions
said he does not determine promo
tions.
He said they are made on recon-
mendation of the division chiefs
AS budget officer. Mr.. Baity said
he passed only on the availability
of funds.
The committee is seeking to learn
whether temporary emergency ap-
pointees advance more rapidly than
civil service employees.
Mr.. Richardson told Senator FL
lender the G. A. o. has regular ap-
propriations and separate emergency
funds.
If permanent civil service en-
ployes were transferred to the emer-
gency pay roll in order to give them
promotion, Mr.. Richardson said, it
would jeopardize their future, since
those jobs may be reduced or elimi-
mated as the emergency funds run
out.
Admits Aiding kin.
It was brought out yesterday by
Mr.. Richardson that G. A. o. has
1850 executive order employees en-
ployed out of various emergency
appropriations and 1900 under civil
service.
With more than a dozen G. A. O
officials gathered around the COM
mittee table, questions suggested by
Mr.. Cockings brought out testimony
that q niece Of Mr.. Baity and q
nephew of Mr.. Baity's wife are EN-.
ployed ut G. A. o. Senator Ell.
lender presented records showing
the nephew entered In 1888 at
$500 a year and Is now receiving
$4,000.
Mr.. Cockings told the committee
he entered the @. A. o. four year.
ago at 1890 and Is now receiving
$500. He contended that while
he has received administrative
raises, he has not had the oppor.
tunity for promotion to the higher
grade work which he felt his priol
experience justified.
In response to Senator Ellender',
questions Mr.. Baity admitted speak.
ing for the nephew and niece wher
they were originally appointed, but
that he did not thereafter ask any
one to do anything.