Evening star., 1940-02-10
Romspeck
District of Columbia have their full
quota or are in excess.
Termed Leech on Government.
Continued From First Page.)

Representative Nichols had de-
declared that civil service is leech
on this Government and if not
stopped will sap the blood from this.
Government" He said that the
District has a quota of 1877, but there
are 1857 from the District on the
pay roll; and Maryland has quota
of $50 and 2,065 in the service.
Representative Reese, Republican,
OF Kansas, member of the Civil
Service Committee. offered an
amendment that no appointment
should be made in the future except
in the quota apportionment set by
Congress and in accordance with
civil service regulations-the Civil
Service Commission already follows
this principle.
To this Representative Keller,
Democrat, of Illinois offered an
amendment which both he and
Chairman Ramspeck explained had
been worked out in cooperation
with the Civil Service Commission.
Then Representative Nichols Of
fered his amendment.
Wo0drum Cites Hardships.
On a rising vote the Nichols
amendment was approved go to 73.
When teller votes were demanded
the amendment was approved ia
to r. Then Representative Clifton
A. Woodrum, Democrat, of Virginia,
took the floor and emphasized the
great hardship that such an amend
ment could work on people who had
held their positions for many years
and who faced the prospect of hav-
ing their jobs swept from under
them. He pointed out that the Dis
trict, Maryland and Virginia were
so much in excess of quotas because
of World War conditions when
people from distant States did not
care to undergo the expense of COM
ing long distances to take temporary
positions-and emphasized that
many in the District, Maryland and
Virginia accepted the positions from
patriotic motives. Representatives
Nichols and Keller replied that not
one of those who now hold Govern
ment jobs outside of the Civil Serv-
ice will be discharged.
Before final action in the House
on the bill, Representative Wood
rum demanded separate vote on
the Nichols quota" amendment. 1t
was again approved 141 to Sc. Later,
Mr.. Nichols said that those who
now hold those positions will be
left undisturbed, except that they
will not be given civil service status
and to get that they may take
q competitive examination, while
those blanketed in will be required
to take a non-competitive examina-
ton. Chairman Ramspeck gave his
opinion that 'it freezes into their
occupancy of jobs people from over
quotaed States. who cannot be pro-
NOTED or transferred"
Amendments Rejected.
Representative Hinshaw, Repub-
Ncan, of California proposed an
amendment to exempt all agencies
which have already been tagged
with an expiration or terminal date
which was defeated 80 to 70.
Representative Boren, Democrat,
Of Oklahoma offered a motion to
strike out the enacting clause-and
argued on the alleged failure of the
Civil Service Commission to adhere
to the State quota apportionment.
this was defeated, 81 to "a.
Mrs. Edith N. Rogers, Republican,
Of Massachusetts, ranking minority
member of the Civil Service Com
mission, proposed an amendment
which would require those blanketed
In under non-competitive examina-
. tions to take competitive examina-
ton before January l, 1941. Mr.
Ramspeck said this was an effort to
DO by indirection what had already
been voted down in the Reese
amendment. 1t was defeated, 10l to
g..
Representative Harter, Republican,
Of New York offered an amendment
to require competitive examinations,
but would allow 10 per cent for ex-
perience, and the examinations
would have to be held within year.
This was rejected by voice vote.
Just before the final vote was
taken on passage Of the bill, Mrs.