Evening star., 1946-04-19

fiouted civil service rules requirin1
dismissal for cause when 1t said Mr..
Gill should go "just because OF an
impasse," he, charged. Taking tho
administration of penal systems
from the Board Of Public Welfare
would remove the "impasse" over
penal administration, he said. !.
1t was unfortunate" Mr.. Morris
added, that the congressional COM
mittee made its recommendations
before any inquiry board hearing
charges of inefnciency against Mr..
Gill had reported its findings. o..
Francis w. Hill, member OF the
inquiry board which conducted 4
seven weeks hearing on the charges.
said he did not believe the Commits
sioners could dismiss Mr.. Gill with.
out, at least, considering the recon-
mendations of the inquiry board. =
Civil service rules do not require
hearing on charges used as basis
for dismissal, but when the em-
ployer has gone beyond the written
rules and accepted the right to .,
hearing II don't see how the en-
ployer then could act before the
recommendations are in," he COM
Imented.
Corrections Department Urged.
Mr.. Morris, observing that he had
give "a great deal of study to the
Districts penal problem" said he
believed a corrections department
responsible to the Commissioners
would eliminate the conflicting re-
sponsibility that has created the
difficulties In which the penal sys-.
tenn is enmeShed.
Edgar Morris, chairman Of the
Welfare Board, could not be reached
for comment on the recommends
ton taking administration Of the
penal system away from his group.
A. Harding Paul, vice chairman,
twho has fought for continuation Of
the present system to give the pub
lie say" in the operation Of its
institutions, said he preferred to
read the report before commenting.
The District Commissioners will
receive Monday a recommendation
either for removal or reinstate-
ment of Mr.. Gill from the inquiry
board that began hearings two
months ago on charges. Of inef1-
cheney filed by the Board Of Public
Welfare.
Mr.. Bastian, chairman, announced
today that the inquiry board has
reached its verdict but would make
no announcement of its decision.
The findings will be written out
today and tomorrow, and copies will
be sent to the Commissioners and
attorneys in the hearing, who can
make them public, Mr.. Bastian said.
Civil Service Rules Govern.
The possibility that the inquiry
boards recommendation might dif-
fer from the congressional Jail rec
concentrations is of no concern to
Mr.. Bastian, he declared. The In
quiry board Is operating under Civil
Service regulations and in any case
1t is up to the Commissioners TO
make the final decision for removal
or reinstatement, the chairman
pointed out.
| Defense Attorney John ]. Wilson
pressed for an early report when
the hearings closed last Friday 30
that Congress could have the 'bene-
fit of the thorough investigation" Of
the charges ordered by the Commis-
sioners.
i Suspension of Mr.. Gill by the We'll
fare Board followed the escape Of
i five felons from the District jail
1 November "A, but the charges Of In.
efficiency, insubordination and vio-
lation Of Welfare Board regulations
were not connected with the escapes
Out of 16 original charges, three
have been abandoned by the Wei
fare Board and one dropped by the
inquiry board. The Civil Service
Commission ruled that six Of the
charges were not sufficiently specific
to support removal proceedings. The
inquiry board, however, heard all OF
them