The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-02-12
Smith Votes Yes
On Ran,speck Bill
Local Congressman Reads Into Records Letter of
Horace D. Taft of Watertown = politics"
SUSPECTED

ing in, but there are valid arguments
for it. In any event, once 1t Is done
those positions, which are more i'm
portant than the inividuals who may
at any time hold them, have come
under civil-service regulations and
civil service laws, and they will stay
there. It is a permanent advance in
the civil service.
Reads Letter
At this time would like to read an
excerpt from a letter which I have
received from one who is very much
interested in the civil service and
who cannot be accused of having any
political interest In this argument
The excerpt follows:
II am informed by Mr.. Kaplan that
the Ramspeck bill III. r. $500 is on
the calendar of the House Of Repre-
sentatives and will soon come up fol
a vote. It's adoption would be so ire
rnendous a reform in the govern
ment service that I feel moved to ex!
press the strong hope that you anc
the rest of the Connecticut Represen-
tatives will vote for 1t and fight fol
it.
"I am confident that If the bill be-
comes a law the president will make
use Of the authority given him and
extend the merit system to cover a
tremendous number of offices.
Gas to the noncompetitive qualify
ing test, 1t seems to me that that is
going as far as practical. The main
politics and freezing in" present en-
thing is to take those offices out of
playes will do it,"
This is signed Sincerely yours,
Horace D. Taft"
That expresses, I think, fair, non
political view of the situation and of
the fact that this step will bring in
these Offices to the permanent civil
service law and advance the civil
service principle in the country. For
that reason, as well as the reason that
it is in fact helpful to many who have
shown efficiency already in the SER
vice, but primarily because 1t is an
advance for the civil-service princi-
pie, 7 expect to support this legisla-
ton.
Mr.. RAMSPECK. Mr.. Chairman,
will the gentleman yield?
Mr.. SMITH Of Connecticut. I yield
Mr.. RAMSPECK. Is the letter
which the gentleman read from
brother Of former President Taft?
Mr.. SMITH of Connecticut. I think
everyone knows who the gentleman
Is. It is not a political question. !
think 1t is question of the advance
ment Of the civil service.
Mr.. HOUSTON. Mr.. Chairman,
will the gentleman yield?
Mr.. SMITH Of Connecticut. I yield.
ConsOlidates Them
Mr.. HOUSTON. I am supporting
this legislation because I believe in
the merit system. The Republican
party today has said that this is nom
political. They are for the merit sys-
tenn, but not in its present form.
They talk about not bringing politics
into 1t, and what the New Deal has
done about civil service. In my state,
when the Republican party came into
power, in order to get rid Of Demo-
crat on bipartisan board, they con-
solidated the board and set 1t up
under some other title. In other
words, Hitler liquidates them, but the
party consolidates them
to get rid of them. Gaughter)
Mr.. SMITH Of Connecticut. Appar-
emily there are political considera-
tons In favor of this bill as well as
against 1t. I do not contend that
there is no political consideration
whatever on the part of anyone who
favors the bill. I do contend that I
believe that regardless Of politics, it
Is still desirable measure, because
It will bring these offices permanent
" under the merit system where we
think they should be.
Mr.. CLIFFORD. Mr.. Chairman, will
the gentleman yield?
MIR. SMITH of Connecticut. ! yield.
Mr.. CLIFFORD. viii the gentleman
tell me, IL he were a Republican,
could he vote for this bill?
Mr.. SMITH Of Connecticut. I hope
I could see my way clear to do it.