Evening star., 1949-05-29

employed.
There is no violation Of the
law involved in the employment
OF non status employees by the
military agencies. The commis-
sion authorized that last year.
providing that II gave its permis-
sion.
But Mr.. James and his sup
porters do find ii strange that
these persons with no permanent
status and little or no Govern
ment background should be
okayed quickly by the commis-
sion. while he. Government
career employe and offieial since
1881, with wide executive expert I
ence. should be found unqualified.
Mr.. James charges that the
commission order removing him
was promoted by the pressure
applied by Representative Walter
of Pennsylvania. the House Dem
ocratic patronage chief. Mr.. James
unsuccessfully sought MIR. Walters
congressional seat last November
The commission denies the charge
although commission officials ac-
knowledge that the post-audit Of
Mr.. James followed a telephone
call by Mr.. Walter to Civil Service
Commissioner Frances Perkins
SECRET VISIT 1t also has
been learned that Miss Perkins
made q hurried call 10 Chairman
Johnston OF the Senate Civil Serv-
ice Committee last Monday-right
after the details about the James
case had been disclosed in the
newspapers. Miss Perkins could
not be reached TO comment as TO
the purpose and details Of her visit.
1t was after this visit that Sem
ator Johnston developed a rather
lukewarm attitude toward the
case. although he permitted Sen
ator Langer. Republican, OF North
Dakota, to hold . one-day hear
ing on Mr.. James charges. /
Commission ofiic ais
have refused to furnish statistics
showing how many post-audits IL
has made during the past year In
these type of executive appnint-s
ments and how many employees
have been disqualified. |
But Government officials say
that . comparatively few number
of post-audits into the qualtf,ca-
tions Of employees already hired for
policy making Jobs, are made by
the commission. And very few a
the post-audits result in finding
an employe unqualified to perform
the duties. Of the job. 1t y said.
Furthermore. the commission
last year gave the military agen-
cies the widest latitude In select
ing their own personnel Cor i'm |
portant Jobs. because Of national
defense considerations. One top
Army official declares he can't
recall the commission disoualify-
ing any of the employees hired by
the department during the past
year as a result Of q post-audit.
except. of course. in the case OF
Roy James. And the Army hires
many civilian employees In the
course Of one years time. /
HEATS ON--Mr. James is par
ticularly resentful over the way he
was subjected to . full-scale 10y /:
atty investigation last March. even
though he had been cleared pre-
viousiy by the FBI during . rou-
tine loyalty check.
A conservative Republican. MFR.
James charges that his erstwhtle
Representative Walter.
was the one who instigated the
loyalty investigation. Mr.. Walter
denies that. although he has &C
knowledged to The Star that he
did mention the subject OF Mr..
James loyalty to Assistant Secre-
tary Of Army Tracy voohrees. In
cidentally. Mr.. James received
clean bill Of health. II
Yet Army spokesmen have be-
come very coy about the whole
affair and st last weeks Senate
hearing on the case denied that
Mr.. Walter had ever mentioned
the case TO any one there. II
should also be noted that the Army
dismissed Mr.. James without even
trying to find another Job for
him, even though the commission
order said that he could be re-
assigned to another Job II the
Army wanted TO do this. II
To the credit OF Mr.. James
close associates and superiors In
the department. they showed no
In highly praising his
work and declaring him eminent
y qualified" for his job. II was