Evening star., 1948-11-05

publican, Of Indiana, has brought
some sighs> OF relief from top Gov
ernment ofiicials.
AS chairman Of the Harness sub
committee investigating so-cailed
propaganda activities in Federal
agencies, Mr.. Harness harassed them
considerably.
The officials say the investigations
had political motives and that they
and their departments were
smeared most unfairly" by Mr.. Har-
ness.
1T got so that I was afraid to
talk to any one on the telephone
for fear that somebody else might
be listening in," one official said.
Now that Mr.. Harness is gone,
they hope that they can go about
their work in peace.
Il
FAvORABLE-Besides the House
and Senate Civil Service Commit
tees, the other most important con-
gressional groups, so far as Govern
ment employees are concerned, are
the House Executive Expenditures,
Appropriations and Rules Commit
tees as well as the Senate Appropri-
ations Committee.
And the change in chairmanships
In these four committees generally
should favor Government employees.
For one thing, Representative
Hoffman of Michigan will no longer
be chairman Of the Executive Ex-
penditures Committee. Mr.. Hoff-
man opposed most Government en-
ployes' benefits, and the committee
under his Craftsmanship, was an
tagonistic to Government workers
as a group.
His successor Is expected to be
Representative Mccormack OF Mas
sachusetts. who has been the House
Minority Leader for the past two
years. If Mr.. Mccormack declines
the job because of more important
assignment, Representative Dawson
Of Illinois will be next in line. Both
men consistently have championed
the cause of Federal employees.
John Taber, the chairman of the
House Appropriations Committee,
won't head that group next year
AS chairman, Mr.. Taber welded the
economy ak in determined fashion,
much to the discomfort of Govern
ment employees. His successor will
be Representative Cannon of Mis-
souri,. who proved friendly to Gov
ernment employees during his pre-
vious term as chairman Of the COM
mittee.
In the Rules Committee, Chair
man Allen is out. and Representa-
tive SABBATH of Illinois is slated to
be the new chairman. Mr.. Allen
was rather sympathetic to Federal
employees. although at times the
committee had to be prodded to
get results. Mr.. SABBATH, the old
est House member in point of serv-
ice, always has fought on the side
of Government workers.
Chairman Bridges of the Senate
Appropriations Committee proved
to be very fair minded, often sub.
stantially increasing the fund.
voted by the House Appropriation.
group. His successor will be Sena.
tor McKellar Of Tennessee, wht
. generally went along with the
Roosevelt and Truman Administra-
tons budget requests when he
headed the committee.
&*H
CAPITAL ROUNDUP-G. Larry
zuch of the Civil Aeronautics Board
has been reelected chairman Of the
Commerce Departments Welfare
and Recreation Council. r. /
Tompkins was elected vice presi-
dent, Leonard Zaciewski treasurer
and Mrs. Mildred Steinmetz secre-
tary. The AFL Government
Employees Council has urged Presi-
dent Truman to give Government
employees the day off on Friday, De-
cember "a. Maj. Gen. Charles
r Harris. jr., retired. will head the
National Security Resources BOA rtl's