Evening star., 1948-02-27

marily "in the interests of national
security"
At present, the Army, Navy and
State Departments have this power,
but it is of a temporary nature.
Now. apparently, Mr.. Rees and the
committee feel that, not only these
three departments should have the
power permanently, but that all
other Government bureaus should
have the same authority.
What disturbs commission officials
is that grave injustices could occur
If all agencies had this authority
Commission officials point out that,
under the present system, 1t Is easy
to get rid of undesirable employees.
But they also point out that at
least the employe in this instance
is entitled to have written charges
presented to him and the right to
answer the charges.
If the House Committees bill Is
enacted into law, there would be
nothing to prevent unscrupulous
Federal officials from firing any one
they didn't like in the name Of
national security" commission off,
cials point out. This would not only
deprive workers of their jobs, but
also would place stigma of dis
loyalty on them, the officials argue.
The commission will try to get Mr..
Rees to drop that provision. Failing
that, the commission will appeal to
the Senate Civil Service Committee
to insist the provision be eliminated
if and when the bill goes to House.
Senate conference.
WHITE HOUSE VACANCY
Senator Taft, Republican, Of Ohio
made a spirited defense yesterday
of the civil service retirement legis-
lation, but at one point he drew
some chuckles from the press gal
lery occupants who are well aware
of the Senator's intense presidential
ambitions.
Commenting on annuity provisions
for some middle-aged Federal en-
ployes, Senator Taft remarked:
1T isn't easy for a man Of so or
SIS to get a new job" >- .->s.,e..ssspas =
" Af which point. one of the news
papsymen quipped: s.s..s.s..s.-..e
Hes likely to find that out atfh4
Republican convention in June.
THAT WORD AGAIN-Our sim
cere thanks to the many readers
who wrote or telephoned their solu-
ton OF the "cnstirner" word puzzle
thstfwax TROUBLING the Army Depsffs
faer1t Alof them pointed out that
"costimer" must have been mis-
PEELED and Is "costumer," which is
coat rack. -.,..s.+ai # ~ ss.es,ss=
Now, along comes a letter from
Virgil L. Couch, the very able and
popular personnel director of the
Departments Farmers
Home Administration.
Mr.. Couch relates that ""cos-
tuners" even when correctly spelled,
can cause some grief and misunder-
standing. 1t seems that some time
ago a supervisor in one of the de-
partments bureaus came across the
word on a supply sheet which listed
the supplies to which each office was
entitled.
The supervisor promptly wrote an
indignant letter to the supply officer
asking for three costumers. The
supply officer, knowing that the
Office already had its
supply of clothes racks. wrote back
and asked the supervisor why he
needed three more costumers. And
he received this prompt reply from
the supervisor, who evidently
thought that costumers are frocks
or aprons:
IT need these costumers because
the three girls in my Office have
been wearing their own clothes at
work ever since the program started -
CAPITAL ROUNDUP-Legislation
to establish a new Federal Depart
ment of Health failed of enactment
again when single objection
its passage on the Senate
consent calendar It's sponsors, how
ever, intend to try again to win its
enactment before Congress adjourns.
The Senate has approved
legislation granting Bureau of Mar
cotics agents the right to retire at
so after 20 years of service, with
an annuity averaging about $4,000