Evening star., 1940-10-08
Ranspeck Bill
Jeopardizedby
Quota Dispute
Measure Sent Back
To Conference as
House Stands Firm
By J. A. FOX.


An emphatic and unexpected re-
versal in the House today had the
Ramspeck civil service bill headed
back to conference, its future in
doubt.
After a coalition of Democrats
and Republicans in the House late
yesterday had voted 181 to 1872 to
reject the conference report on the
measure. Representative Ramspeck,
Democrat, of Georgia expressed the
hope that I'VE can work something
out" Senator Bulow, Democrat, OF
South Dakota, chairman of the
Senate Civil Service Committee, ex-
pressed doubt, however, that the
Senate would accept the House fiat
to retain in the bill provision to
deny its benefits to employees here
from States having more than their
quota of positions in the appor-
toned service-the issue that fig
ured in the seaback the measure
received.
This amendment, sponsored then
by Representative Keller of Illinois
and Nichols of Oklahoma. Demo-
Gratis, was adopted by the House in
February in passing the bill to bring
between 125.000 and 100000 posi-
tions under civil service, and extend
Classification Act pay rates to the
field service. 1t was knocked out by
the Senate after Civil Service Com
mission officials had emphasized
that its inclusion would make ad-
ministration of the legislation i'm
possible, while at the same time
discriminating against several thou
sand men and women from num-
ber of States and the District OF
Columbia, to whom 1t would deny
the privilege of attaining civil serv-
ice status with provision for trans
fer, promotion and retirement bene-
fits
Keller Withdraws.
Mr.. Keller announced yesterday
afternoon as debate started that he
was withdrawing his advocacy of the
amendment, inasmuch as he was
convinced that the Civil Service
Commission was attempting to ad-
minister the apportionment law to
the best of its ability.
Mr.. Nichols continued the fight,
however, charging that the civil
service system is not fair" and that
he wanted his State-which is under
quota-to get its share of positions.
After the House had rejected the
conference report-which had been
adopted by the Senate last week
without discussion-and voted to
send the report back to conference.
the conferees were instructed by a
vote of 164 to AZ to insist on the
amendment.
Central Labor Union last night
adopted a resolution condemning the
quota provision.
There was an indication that some
sort of compromise might be
sought on this provision. Another
Senate amendment that appeared
likely to be the subject OF discus
sion in conference provides for the
substitution of flngerprlntS Tor
photographs as a means of identl-
fication for applicants for Federal
positions. In offering this amend
ment when the bill was before the
Senate, Senator MintOn, Democrat,
of Indiana said the photographs
permitted racial discrimination by
appointing officers. The amend
ment was understood to be unsatis-
factory to a large bloc of Southern
House members.
While Representative Ramspeck
was explaining the bill yesterday
afternoon, Representative Pearson,
Democrat, of Tennessee inquired II
there is ANY valid reason why
person should not submit photo
graph?"
Ramspeck Sees No Difference.
"I don't think it makes any differ
ence, as appointing officers have the
right to interview applicants" Mr..
Ramspeck responded.
Aside from the quota row stirred
by Mr.. Nichols, the principal vocal
opposition to the bill came from
Representatives Rogers of Massa-
chusetts. and Rees of Kansas, Re-
vision that would permit those en-
ployes qualifying for civil service
under the bill to take non-competl-
tive examinations, instead OF forc-
ing them to enter open, competitive
tests. Mrs. Rogers argued that Civil
Service Commission estimates that
about Is per cent of the workers
foi q -POnnpt1-
tive test, and perhaps three times
that many on a competitive exami-
nation, proved they were not quail
fled for employment.
In defending the administration
of the quota law by the Civil Serv-
ice Commission, Mr.. Ramspeck. de-
clared that Representative Nichols
allegations that the commission
was not following the law were
mot based on facts" He pointed
to the continual evening-up process
that has been going on in the ap-
portioned service for the past seven
years, and emphasized that the
original dislocation of the figures
was a product of World War en-
piOymeHG CoIlulIlOuS Aoio.
Vote Causes Surprise.
For the first time in the history
of civil service, we have a chance
to make the Government almost 100
per cent civil service" the Georgian
told his colleagues.
While some opposition to the bill
had been expected, the size of the
vote that eventually was rolled up
to reject the conference report came
as a surprise-apparently even to
the Republicans. The measure is
backed by employe organizations
and also has White House support.
The final step to put the measure
back before the conferees was taken
early last night when the Senate
agreed to this procedure.