Evening star., 1940-01-14
Billion Wasted
On Patronage,
0rdwaySays
Statement Issued
In Connection With
Civil Service Week

A billion dollars could be saved by
eliminating "wasteful patronage"
from Federal, State and local gov
ernments, Samuel H. Ordway, jr,
president of the National Civil Serv-
ice Reform League, said in a state
ment last night in connection with
the opening of National Civil Serv-
ice Week, which is being observed
by Federal employe and other or
ganizations to mark the 57th an
niversary of the signing of the Civil
Service Act, January 16, 1883.
AS q part of the program. the Ma
tional Radio Forum, weekly feature
of The Evening Star will present
over WMAL a discussion Of civil
service policies and tendencies by
Senator's Mead, Democrat, of New
York, and Hatch, Democrat, of New
Mexico, on Monday night, January
%, at 10:30 o'clock. Senator Mead
long has been identified with en-
ploye legislation, while Senator
Hatch is the author of the new
Hatch Act limiting the political ac-
tivity of Federal employees.
Meetings by District lodges of the
Federation of Federal Employees and
the American Federation of Gov.
ernment Employees are other high.
lights of the observance here.
Would Extend System.
The statement by Mr.. Ordway,
former member Of the Civil Service
Commission, was issued from the
headquarters of the Reform League
in New York.
"The taxpayers of the country
could save more than the total
amount needed for our increased
defense program of $3.50 100000 a
year If they would squeeze out
wasteful patronage in our expand
ing public service" he said.
"Over half billion dollars in di-
rect savings and probably another
half billion dollars in indirect saw
ings could be made by extending the
merit system throughout the Fed
eral, State and local governments.
The businessman, the farmer. the
professional man and the laborer all
have awakened to the fact that we
can no longer afford to support the
political luxury of patronage, be-
cause they have come to realize
from their own experience with the
public service that the merit system
produces more effective public serv-
ice at reduced cost.
Open Competition Hailed.
open competition securing career
opportunity on basis of merit has
proved its worth in every locality
where it has been fairly applied"
Mr.. ordway said that highly
skilled workers, college graduates
trained for the responsibilities of
government and successful profess
sional men and women are entering
or looking at the public service for
careers"
THE day of a professionalism
public service. enjoying new and
deserved popular prestige, is here at
last" he emphasized.
The employe organization pro-
grams will permit comprehensive
discussion of present plans for
bringing under civil service the thou
sands of positions now exempt and
improving Federal personnel admin
istration.
n. F. F. E. Meets Tomorrow.
The N. F. F. E. meeting will be
held at the Willard Hotel at pm.
tomorrow. The speakers will be
Chairman Ramspeck, Democrat, of
Georgia of the House Civil Service
Committee and the three members
of the Civil Service Commission
President Harry B. Mitchell and
Commissioners Lucille Foster McMil-
lin and Arthur S. Flemming.
The A. F. G.. E. meeting will be
IN the new Interior Department
auditorium at pm. Wednesday.
The Civil Service commissioners and
DR.. Frederick M. Davenport, head
of the Council of Personnel Ad.
mlnistration, will be the speakers.
The A. F. G. E. also has arranged
daily broadcasts which will be car
ried over the three chains. Gov
ernment employees are invited to that
sponsored by the Mutual Broadcast
Ing Co. from the new Interior stu
dio at 8 o'clock tonight.
James B. Burns, A. F. G. E. presi.
dent, opened the series of broad
casts when he was a guest on
WJSV's Labor News Review" last
night. The Democracy in Action"
program, Columbia network feature,
at 2:30 pm. today, also will offer
a salute to Civil Service Week.