Evening star., 1940-04-17
Schwartz Opposes
Civil Service for
T.V. A. Workers
Merit System Now Used
In Selecting Employees
Is Defended
BY ]. A. FOX.

ployes won't thereafter be worth
q thin dime to the Democratic
party" if they are put under civil
service, Senator Schwartz, Demo-
crat, OF Wyoming, today told the
Senate Civil Service Committee in
the course of an extended argument
against including the T. v. A. force
under the provisions of the Ram
speck civil service extension bill.
Indicating his understanding that
the Hatch Act barring political
activity by Federal employees would
not be applicable to the force en-
ployed by the Authority, which is a
corporation, under existing condi-
tions, Senator Schwartz said he felt
that every American citizen should
to the best of his ability work for the
political principles in which he be-
ieves." He also saw the possibility
that employees chosen by competi-
tive civil service, rather than by the
heads Of the Authority, would not
believe In the wisdom and feasibil-
ity" of the legislation creating the
vast Southeastern development.
Earlier, Senator Schwartz pointed
out to the committee that political
preferment in the appointing and
promotion OF Tennessee Valley work.
ers is forbidden by law under pen
atty Of removal.
w. P. A. Ban Opposed.
The Wyoming Senator was one Of
several witnesses called before the
committee headed by Senator Bu-
low, Democrat, of South Dakota
which is holding hearings on the
bill, sponsored by Chairman Ram
speck of the House Civil Service
Committee. The measure passed
the House in February.
Representative Rogers, Repub-
lican, of Massachusetts, appeared in
opposition to the measure because
1t provides for granting civil service
status to thousands of workers by
competitive examination. She
favors competitive tests.
Col. F. c. Harrington, Work
Projects commissioner, urged that
the prohibition in the bill against
allowing w. P. A. workers to acquire
civil service staths be lifted, declar-
Ing it was unjust, and Col E. w.
Clark, acting P. W. A. administrator,
urged that the $500 employees fur
loughed by that agency in the last
few months also have the oppor-
tunity to acquire civil service, de-
claring they were competent workers
and had an average of 33 years
service in the Government.
Defends "Merit System"
Senator Schwartz, who was a
member of the joint congressional
committee which some time ago in
vestigated the operation of the T.
" A., vigorously defended the merit
system" employed in the selection of
employees there which often is re-
ferred to as model" for non-civil
service employment.
He felt he said, enat the rules and
regulations of the Civil Service Com
mission would be too restrictive in
choosing workers, and would not
permit Of the adoption of advanced
methods of selection that might be
developed. He also stressed the fact
that the commission is far behind in
its work, and expressed the fear that
T. v. A. personnel problems would
be subordinated.
The Wyoming Senator agreed
that civil service employees who
might be out of sympathy with the
philosophy of the T. V. A. venture
because of its competition with pri-
vate industry would not resort to
sabotage" but insisted that the di-
rectors should have free. rein in
choosing their force.
His observation about the political
worth of the employees to the Demo-
cratic party was occasioned by the
criticism he explained he had heard
that the Ramspeck. bill would freeze
Into ofiice large number of Demo-
Gratis. He opposed freezing them
an" but for a different reason, he
said jocularly.
The Senator added that he was
once covered into civil service and
indicated that when that happened.
Government workers no longer have
any political interest.
Table Shows Coveraxe.
In connection with her testimony,
Representative Rogers introduced a
table showing cross-section of the
employees to be brought under civil
service, according to their distribu-
ton by residence. Covering 57804
employees in 10 agencies here, the