Evening star., 1950-01-03

OF the Government CIVIL service
system.
These officials assert that the
present chairman, Harry B.
Mitchell, who is in his eighties,
is past the age where he can
carry out effectively the reorgani-
zation of the commission author
lied by Congress and the Presi-
dent several months ago. Their
drive to replace Mr.. Mitchell is
hampered by none Of the niceties
Iof intra- Government battles -
they are using every means at
their disposal to have the White
House bring in a new man.
The group hasn't agreed on
particular candidate. They say
they are primarily interested in
seeing a younger man in the
job - one with a good admins
trative and personnel background
who has a fresh viewpoint"
Friends and associates of Mr..
Mitchell declare his age is no
handicap, asserting that he is
more active now than when he
first took the job II years ago.
Furthermore. they declare. the
commission is reorganizing itself
under Mr.. Mitchell's leadership
to do a more effective job. And
they add that Mr.. Mitchell sub
mitted his resignation more than
year ago and is only staying at
the personal request of the Presi-
dent.
Those ppposing Mr.. Mitchell
bitterly attack the commissions
"inaction" and its reluctance to
change" They say only new
chairman can bring about the
"housecleaning" at the commits
sion that is needed to "modernize
the Governments civil service
system"
| Another factor in the situation
is the sharp disagreement be-
tween the commission and budget
and other agency officials over
adoption Of tha Hoover report
urging decentralization of per-
sonnel activities to the agencies
The commission strongly opposes
this, while Budget Bureau and
many agency personnel officials
are in favor.
A MATTER OF RECORDERS
gardless Of the pros and cons in
the controversy raging around
Mr.. Mitchell. even most Of his
opponents are willing to concede
that he has been one of the most
able men ever to head the COM
mission. But. they say, he has
outstayed his usefulness and now
is the time for him to step down.
On the other hand, Mr.. Mitchell's
friends feel he should be given a
chance to carry out his plans for
reorganizing the commission. The
decision rests with Mr.. Truman.
X X +
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM-As
disclosed here last week. the vari-
Gus Government employe unions
won't ask for another round of
Federal pay raises this year-not
unless the cost of living takes an
Unexpectedly sharp rise.
This was officially confirmed
today by the AFL Government
Employees Council, which repre-
sents more than 100000 Federal
workers. In announcing its 1850
legislative program. the Council
said it was making no specific re-
quest for salary increases.
The Council said it would make
some salary" surveys just in
case a change in economic con-
dltions might warrant another
Federal pay raise demand. but
for all intents and purposes it's
quite certain that Federal pay
raises are a dead issue In this
new session Of Congress.
The Councils 1850 legislative
program for Federal workers in
cludes the crediting to veterans
for promotion purposes of all the
time they spent in the armed
forces, severance pay or unem-
ployment compensation benefits
for dismissed Federal employees,
more liberal survivorship annuity
benefits for employees already re-