Evening star., 1948-12-08

4AebSC bCCAls
Therefore, the council Is urging
the Democratic Committee on Com
mittees to appoint progressives on
the Civil Service Committee. Since
the seven vacancies are expected to
be Allied by freshmen House men,
bers, the council has been sounding
out newly elected Representatives on
agreeing to serve on the committee.
Several already have given favorable
replies.
Among the freshmen Representa-
tives, who are being sought by the
council to fill the vacancies are
Representatives Walsh Of Indiana,
Wagner OF Ohio, and Rhodes of
Pennsylvania, all Democrats.
Incidentally, the council is count
ing heavily on two veteran commit
tee members, Representatives Miller
of California and Lyle Of Texas,
both Democrats, to lead the fight
for progressive legislation in the
group. And it feels that, with the
current vacancies filled by friendly
legislators, the committee for the
next two years will be receptive to
beneficial Government employees
legislation.
SO YOU THINK IT'S TOUGH?-
Government stenographers and
typists who complain that the exams
for these jobs are too difficult should
take a gander at the exam given
for these positions about 20 years
ago.
Here's a typical question that was
asked of stenographic and typist ap-
plicants around 1928.
Multiply 1928 by 80 6/25, divide
the product by 24.57, and to the
quotient add the difference between
95 1910 and 40 9/16."
A lot of Government officials
must have had severe cases Of in
feriority complexes in those days.
SKY'S THE LIMIT-The left
wing CIO United Public Workers of
America has gone on record as ask
ing for a $1,100 pay increase for all
Government employees. UPWA also
asked for a 35-hour work week at
its recent legislative conference
here.
In announcing its 1949 legisla-
tive program. UPWA didn't act like
a union that is on the verge OF
losing its jurisdiction in the Federal
employe field. But national CIO
insiders say that is exactly what is
going to happen when the CIO Ex-
ecutlve Board meets here in jan
uary. President Philip Murray is
said to be anxious to get a new
Government employees union under
way in the CIO.
FEDERAL MEDIATION-Any at
tempt to bring the Federal Media
ton and Cancellation Service under
the Labor Department will be re-
sisted strongly by mediation Of
ficials.
They express the view that the
Mediation Service has compiled a
good record because it is divorced
from the Labor Department. AS an
independent unit, the service can
deal much more effectively with
management in settling differences,
these officials say.
Their views are being made known
to legislators on Capitol Hill who
have been friendly to the agency
The Mediation Service is counting
on these members to keep the agency
intact.
CAPITAL ROUNDUP-Dr. John
E. White is the new chief OF the
National Bureau of Standards Elec-
tron Tube Section. President
Truman's retention of Defense Sec
retary Forrestal and the resignation
of National Security Resources
Board Chief Arthur M. Hill were
tipped off in this column weeks ago
The Civil Service Commission S
Employe Bulletin for its own per-
sonnel is another of the outstand-
ing publications of its kind in the
Government. It's very ably edited
by Lyman L. Woodman of the COM
missions information division. .
The Federal Club, which is an Or
ganization composed of top Govern