Evening star., 1951-03-02
Defense Agency
PriorityUrged
By Ramspeck
Federal Personnel
Must Be Subject to
Shifting, He Declares
By Joseph Young

By Joseph Young
Greater use of the Governments
non-defense agency employees to
fill defense agency jobs is essen
tial to the national emergency
program. Robert Ramspeck, newly
nominated chairman of the Civil
Service Commission, declared to-
day.
Mr.. Ramspeck said in an inter-
view that it is vital that the Gov
ernment utilize las fully as pos
sible" all of its available man
power.
The same thing is true of pri-
vate industry, he added.
The Georgia Democrat, who
served In the House for II years
and was Democratic whip and
chairman of the House Civil Serv-
ice Committee before he resigned
to enter private industry in 1945,
said conditions are different now
from what they were during the
last war.
Little Backlog of Workers.
"The country has little, if any
unemployment now, and conse-
quently the Government can't ex-
pect to find all the new employees
it wants." Mr.. Ramspeck said.
This factor, as well as reasons
OF economy, make it imperative
that the Government get along
with the employees it now has, he
said.
Mr.. Ramspeck, whose nomina-
ton is expected to be confirmed
by the Senate next week, said this
problem will be given major at
tention by the Commission.
Stresses Defense Agencies.
Mr.. Ramspeck said he felt the
Governments merit system should
not be weakened, even during the
national emergency, but he de-
clared that everything possible
should be done to give the Gov
ernment's defense and mobilza-
ton agencies all the authority
they need to hire capable EN-.
ployes as quickly as possible.
He said it would be the Com
Missions job to see to it that
these hirings met minimum Civil
Service requirements.
"The defense agencies were
given considerable leeway during
the last war without permanently
Finjuring the merit system, and
l think that the same sort Of
thing will be worked out this
time" Mr.. Ramspeck declared.
! Studying Problems.
He asked not to be quoted on
his views regarding questions OF
employe leave, longer working
hours and other issues now being
discussed in Congress. He said he
is giving these matters serious
study, but that it would be pre-
sumptuous for him to take any
stand until his nomination is ap-
proved by the Senate.
Regarding the commissions top
staff, Mr.. Ramspeck said he want
ed to get frst-hand view of the
situation there before deciding on
any personnel changes.
Mr.. RamSpeck probably will take
over as the successor to the vet
eran Harry B. Mitchell about the
middle of the month. 1t will take
that amount of time to wind up
his duties as executive vice presi-
dent of the Air Transport Asso-
citation.
Appointment Hailed.
Mr.. Ramspeck's appointment
has been hailed by both Repub-
lican and Democratic members Of
Congress as an excellent one, and
being just what the commission
needs to furnish strong leadership
on Government personnel prob
lens.
Mr.. Ramspeck took a reported
$4,000 cut in salary to accept the
SIG. .000-a-year commission job. He
said he accepted the commission
Craftsmanship because the Presi-
dent asked me, and in national
emergency no one can refuse the
Presidents request to serve in an
important Government position"