Evening star., 1940-03-18
By ], A, OIEARY.

BY ]. A. OLEARY.
An effort to blanket nearly 271 900
Federal employees into the Civil
Service as an amendment to the
Hatch bill failed this afternoon, as
the Senate approached the final
passage of the measure.
Offered by Senator Minton,
Democrat, of Indiana, the Civil
Service amendment was beaten, So
to "a.
The vote was not regarded as re.
Meeting Senate opposition to exten.
sion OF the Civil Service, but an
unWllllngness on the part of many
Senators to tie the subject in with
the Hatch bill, which seeks to place
State employees paid out of Federal
funds under the political activity
ban already applying to Federal
workers.
A few minutes later the Senate
adopted the Byrd amendment In
tended to restore to Federal en-
ployes the right they formerly en-.
Joyed to take part in purely munich
pal affairs of nearby Maryland and
Virginia counties in which they live.
It was made to apply also to any
community in the United States in
which a majority of the voters are
Federal employees.
Seattle and Norris Affected.
This provision was made after
Senator Schwellenbach, Democrat,
of Washington said it was desirable
in the vicinity of the Navy Yard
at Seattle. Other Senators also
cited the town of Norris, Tenn,
where most of the employees work
| for the Government.
For many years employees living
in nearby Maryland and Virginia
were allowed by civil service rules
to act as mayors or councilmen in
such communities. The original
Hatch Act nullified those rules.
Another March Through Georgia.
Earlier in the Hatch bill debate,
Senator Smith, Democrat, of South
Carolina, denounced the arrest Of
Gov. E. D. Rivers of Georgia last
week by a United States marshal,
in connection with his row with the
State Highway Department. The
South Carolinan said he did not
want his colleagues to lose tho
implications of that incident" and
called the Hatch bill another in
stance of Federal invasion of State
rights.
Sherman is marching through
Georgia again." Senator Smith de-
clared.
Foes Pin Faith on House.
Conceding their defeat in the
Senate, opponents of the bill were
hoping that the Democratic leader
ship would let it gather dust in q
House pigeonhole.
They gave up all efforts to block
a final roll call. It was a case, they
said, of being willing to lose battle
on the chance of winning the war.
Several foes of the measure ex-
pressed confidence that the House
would not approve it at this session,
inasmuch as they declared that
Speaker Bankhead and Democratic
Leader Rayburn were opposed to it.
An effort will be made to tie up the
bill in the House Judiciary Commit
tee.
A Senate amendment limiting
campaign contributions to $1,000
was described by the opponents as
materially lessening chances of
House passage.
Minton Sees No Lasting Split.
Although the two weeks debate
on the controversial legislation has
split Democratic ranks in the SEN
ate, Senator Minton expressed the
belief that the breach would not be
lasting.
This isn't like the fight over the
Presidents court reorganization BILL"
said Senator Minton, who led the
attack on the Hatch measure.
Senator Barkley announced that
the billion-dollar farm bill would
be taken up Immediately after
action on the Hatch legislation. To
the farm funds, recommended by
the President and approved by the
House, the Senate Appropriations
Committee added $2l2,0O0,0OO for
parity payments and $85 5000 900 for
crop surplus removal.
Senator Russell, Democrat, Of
Georgia. organizing the fight for
the parity funds, told reporters:
I'VE may be able to pass it Tues
day. I doubt if there will be IS
votes against it,"
Senator Russell said that two
mail order catalogues-one for 1918
and the other for 1940-would be
used to show why the Government
must give more aid to the farmers.
parity payments are designed to
bring farmers purchasing power up
to pre-World War levels.)
illustrates Price Increase.
An ordinary work shirt, Senator
Russell said, cost 81 cents in 1918
and 70 cents this year. When this
increase is translated into cotton at
average prices, he said the differ.
ence is still greater.
After voting on the farm bill, the
Senate will dig into third major
controversy - the House-approved
bill continuing the administrations
reciprocal trade program for three
years. Debate probably will last q
week or 10 days.
Senator Harrison, Democrat, Of
Mississippi, in charge of the bill, told
reporters there would be q very
close vote" on an amendment to re-
quire Senate ratification of trade
agreements. He predicted, however,
that the amendment would be de-