davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1955-02-22

examination should be SUM-
GENTLY generous to give 1t some
leeway in meeting emergencies
In addition to its expected ex-
amining load. Where abnormal
lateral recruitment outside reg
listers occurs, the Civil Service
Commission also should be. au-
thorized to charge the agency
or agencies which it services for
the cost of the examinations. if
it does not have sufficient funds.
2. Where lateral entry to the
classified services occurs at ad-.
vanced levels, the Civil Service
Commission should make very
sure that there is bona fide open
competition. When the examin-
ing function has been delegated
to employing agencies. the Civil
Service Commissions inspections
should be prompt and thorough.
"3. There should be no politi-
cal clearance of appointments to
competitive positions at any
level by promotions, from ex-
animation registers, or by dis
cretionary appointments in the
absence of a register The Presi-
dent should hold the head of
each department and agency
responsible for seeing that this
does not occur. Civil Service
Commission inspections should
be sufficiently thorough to bring
to light improper political clear
ance. In this connection. the
recent action of the commission
to review appointment rules and
procedures in the case of outside
appointments is to be commend
ed. The inspections of agency
personnel operations by the
commission should go behind the
formal record to the realities of
personnel transactions.
"a. Positions excepted in
Schedule A should not be sub
jected wholesale to political
clearance. In most instances
this is not the intent of the
schedule. The conversion of
these positions to political
"spoils" can only reduce the
efficiency. the morale. and the
prestige of the Federal civil
service.
IS. The releasing of eligible
lists privately to any person in
advance of its formal approval
and general availability should
be prohibited by law.
"6. The civil service law should
be amended to prohibit the
soliciting. obtaining. transmit
ting. making. or receiving of a
political endorsement by a Fed
eral official or employe: by the
official. employee or representa-
tive of a national State, county
or city political committee or
party organization; or by an
official, employe or representa-
tive of any registered lobby, in
connection with any position or
vacancy to be filled in the
competitive civil service. A po-
litical endorsement should be
defined to include any state
ment as to the party affiliation
of the candidate or the interest
of the endorser in the appoint
ment of the candidate. Viola
tions should be made a mis-
demeanor."
Evening star., 1955-02-22
Motusow Got $3.50
For Wisconsin Tour

MADISON. Wis, Feb. % up.
Harvey Matusow was paid
$3.50 for a Wisconsin speaking
tour on behalf of Senator Nc
Carthy. Republican. of Wiscon-
sin. official records showed to-
day.
Records filed with the Secre-
tary of States Office here showed
Matusow was paid $50 for travel
and $500 for salary and ex-
penses" for the speaking tour in
August, 1852.
The expenditures were filed by
the Mccarthy Club of Mil
waukee, one of the major groups
which backed Senator Mccarthy
for reelection.
Evening star., 1955-02-22
Alexandria Council 10 Get
Bid for Juvenile Home Aid

Alexandria Councilman Frank
E. Mann plans to ask the City
Council tomorrow 2nightato in
clude S34.748 in the 1855 Sc
budget as Alexandria's contri-
button toward construction of
the regional juvenile detention
home.
The other three nearby Vir-
ginia jurisdictions. Fairfax, Ar
lington and Falls Church already
have pledged to put up their
share toward the $4,000 home.
Mr.. Mann, who with Council
man Daniel F. O'Flaherty repre-
sents Alexandria on a commit
tee for the detention home, de-
clared that he considers it es-
sential for funds to be placed in
the new budget.
Evening star., 1955-02-22

District and vicinity - Cloudy
and mild with showers tonight
and low around As. Cloudy to-
morrow with occasional rain and
mild.
Maryland - Con i'd er a b e
cloudinesS and mild tonight and
tomorrow with a few brief
periods of rain. Low tonight in
the 40s but in the 30s in the
mountains. Turning colder to-
morrow in extreme west.
Virginia-Showers in the in
terror tonight with low 40-46.
Cloudy with showers tomorrow
and colder in the mountains.
Evening star., 1955-02-22

principle of the merit system,
open competition.
"3. Lateral entry q. E., at ad-
vanced levels) into the civil Serv-
ice, necessary and desirable
action to introduce new blood
occasionally and to meet emer-
gency shortages of talent. NAV
also be abused. If there is not
genuine open competitive search
for the best man, the merit sys-
tenn is challenged. If the process
is simply one of the agency
heads spotting a man he wants
and of the Civil Service Com
missions qualifying this chosen
person. the merit principle loses
it's meaning. The vacancy must
be announced, the best sources
of talent must be canvassed, and
a group of the best qualified per-
sons must be considered together
to insure genuine open compe-
tition.
4. Political clearance of ap-
pointments to competitive posi-
tions is a quick and sure way to
subvert the merit system. When
men who are otherwise qualified
for promotion within the classi-
fled service are cleared with Sem
ators. congressman. or party
committees, the career service
begins to lose its character. In
fiuence, political affiliations. and
friends in party circles become
the avenues to advancement in-
stead of professional competence.
Political neutrality for career
servants becomes more difficult
to achieve; and the knowledge
that political influence is con-
trolling key appointm e S
spreads, undermining employe
morale. -. gns
Equally Serious.
political clearance of outside
appointments to competitive po-
sitions is equally serious in its
adverse effect upon the merit
system. 1t soon becomes known
that only the politically reliable
eligibles have a chance to be ap-
pointed. Other persons than the
party henchmen decline to take
the examinations and the quality
of the applicants deteriorates. In
other words, open competition is
destroyed by narrowing the ac-
tual choice, to persons approved
by the party machinery OF the
party in power.
"A particularly objectionable
practice is the leaking of eligi-
BILE lists to party organizations
before they are made public.
This provides an opportunity for
pressure and political manipula-
ton to eliminate candidates who
do not have political support. 1t
also gives the party bosses a
chance to sell their influence to
nervous candidates who do not
yet know their position on the
eligible list.
"All forms of political clear
ance OF appointments. to COM
petitive positions are contrary
to either the spirit or the letter
of the law The spirit of the law
is much broader than the letter
of the law which was enacted in
1888. Probably the letter OF the
law should be brought up to
date with realities but in any
event patronage practices which
take advantage of loopholes can
not be condoned. If done for
any considerable period or on
any extensive scale, they de-
stroy the, merit principle; the
civil service system becomes a
hollow shell and the ultimate
loser is the public whose efficient
management has been sacrificed
to special interest.
Evening star., 1955-02-22
~
MutusoW !.
Continued From First Page)


spiracy on the basis of Matu-
sow's swearing he gave untrue
testimony about four of them.
Much of MatusoW's testimony
yesterday was a repetition of
what he gave in Federal Court
in New York last week. But he
made one new accusation
against Miss Bentley.
Matusow said Elizabeth Bent
ley, I believe, gave false testi-
mony." He added that he
learned this in conversation"
not hearsay.
Would Go Ahead With Book.
Among other things, Matusow
testified that:
/. Even if he knew that his
publishers, Angus Cameron and
Albert E Kahn, were now Com
munists-he has accused both of
being Reds-and the Communist
Party was using his forthcoming
book False Witness" to promote
its own ends, he would still go
through with its publication.
He said that Cameron & Kahn
was the only publishing house
with the courage" to print his
book. He explained that he
would go through with it q
serve the ends OF Harvey Ma
tusow and tell the truth"
. 2. He was paid 5000 or $7OO for
speeches in Washington in which
he called Senator Jackson. Dem
ocrat, of Washington. a pro-
Communist" and between $1,000
and $1.400 for calling Senator
Mansfield, Democrat, of Mon
tana. "a tool of the Communist
Party''-both in the 1852 cam
paign. He added he attacked
hundreds" of others unjustly
for money.
3. Roy M. Cohn, former as
sistant United States attorney,
was the only Government Off
cial who ever suggested he
should give false testimony. Mr..
Cohn, one-time counsel to the
Evening star., 1955-02-22
RECOMMENDATIONS.

81. Discretionary appoint
ments in the absence of a regis
ter should be kept to a mini
mum, and competitive examin-
ations should be held within the
year to make sure that all po-
sitions in the classified service
are filled by open competition,
The Civil Service Commissions
own budget for recruitment and
Evening star., 1955-02-22
Radiation May Cause
Shorter Life Span,
Senate Probe Told

A Senate subcommittee was
told today that a possible de-
layed effect of radiation exposure
from atomic and hydrogen bomb
explosions is "a statistical short
ening of life expectancy"
The testimony was given as a
Senate Armed Services subcom-
mittee headed by Senator Ke-
fauver, Democrat, of Tennessee.
began a full-scale investigation
of civil defense problems arising
from radioactive fall-outs after
hydrogen bomb explosions.
One of the first witnesses was
DR.. John c. Bugher, head Of
the Atomic Energy Commissions
biological and medical division.
DR.. Bugher discussed the ra-
diation effects of nuclear ex-
plosions in a statement in which
the technical language held out
a grim picture of death and in
juries from radiation.
No Data on Humans.
"a possible delayed effect of
radiation exposure which has
been demonstrated on animals
is a statistical shortening of life
expectancy" DR.. Bugher said.
This phenomena does not re-
suit from any specific cause of
death but apparently from a
general accelreation of the aging
process. Whether this factor
can be recognized in a human
population is as yet unknown"
DR.. Bugher discussed. to some
extent the genetics effects of
radiation on future generations
but cautioned against some of
the extreme statements that
have been made in the past.
"This genetics problem. which
is one of the fundamental as
poets of the adjustment of man
to the world of the future. is
sometimes thrown into confu-
sion by reckless and unchtical
pronouncements which go far
beyond our knowledge" the
medical expert, testified. 1T is
most essential that we keep our
perspective in such matters and
base our generalizations upon
substantial evidence" ..
No Danger in Tests.
DR.. Willard Libby. one of the
Acc Commissioners. testified
that there is very little prospect
of any hazardous fallouts from
the current atomic tests in Ne
vada. He said the Acc main
tains both short and long range
monitoring to check on the fall
out and the current tests do not
involve the hydrogen bomb.
In opening the inquiry. Sem
ator Kefauver said the subcom-
mittee does mot wish to be
"alarmist" and added:
But it is our view that for
the maximum safety of the peo-
pie it is time that the facts re-
garding these problems should
be brought more fully into the
light. Without knowledge and
understanding by the people
generally of these matters it ap-
pears to the subcommittee that
no effective solutions to the prob
lens which vitality affect every
one Of us will be possible.
Evening star., 1955-02-22
Star Phone Services
Set for Today

The Stor's telephone services will
observe the following closing hours
today;
Classified Department. 9 pm.
Circulation Department. $50 pm.
News Department ond Main Switch
boord, II pm.
As usuoI. night service lines will
be ploeed in operation otter the moin
switchboard is closed.
Evening star., 1955-02-22
Correction

In story about alleged police
beating of a prisoner, The Star
in its early edition on Friday.
said Mrs. Robert Saunders of
Herndon. Va, had forfeited S.
collateral on charges of being
drunk February 13.
This information came from
a court official. Mrs. Saunders
told The Star she forfeited the
IS on a disofderly conduct
charge-not drunk charges.
Examination of the official rec
ords proves her correct.
Evening star., 1955-02-22

tributed to Communist causes
in the early 1930S.
Queried about Mr.. Watson's
testimony turnabout. a Justice
Department official told news
men, Nothing on him has been
referred here yet. We assume
that if the commission has any
questions concerning his testi-
mony, they will refer that tram
script also"
Evening star., 1955-02-22


Politics in the merit system
is always a depressant to the
morale of career civil servants
and a disturbing element in the
operations of an executive de-
partment. By politics is meant
appointments or other personnel
actions that are influenced by
partisan considera tons of a per-
sonal, a factional, or party
character in areas outside those
which are the proper purview OF
political executives. Politics in
the merit system must be distin-
guished from the appointment of
political executives and their po-
litical aides who properly are
chosen at the direction of the
Chief Executive and serve at his
pleasure. ..
Until a clear-cut decision is
made to get rid of patronage in
the civil service and to concen-
trate political appointments in
the area of political executives
who must serve at the pleasure
of the Chief Executive or the
department heads, patronage will
continue to affect both the eff
cheney and the prestige of the
public service adversely.
PRESSURE Patronage at
tacks upon the merit sys-
tenn, or abuses which per-
nit "spoils" to enter, have
four principal forms: ID I'M
proper exceptions from the COM
petitive service which may occur
! through administrative action in
excepted schedules "A, B, or C.
or through legislative action;
t2) appointments in the absence
of a civil service register; 80
lateral entry into the compete
tive civil service through outside
recruitment at high levels with
out genuine open competition;
! a. political clearance of ap-
pointments. particularly promo
tionS, within the =, competitive
civil service. ..
81. There is a legitimate place
for schedules A, B, and c which
except positions from the COM
petitiSe or classified service.
Damage to the merit system
occurs only when positions are
excepted, improperly Or when
positions so excepted are used
for 'spoils.'' =. .
80. Under rules of the Civil
Service Commission, if a vacancy
occurs in a classified position for
which the commission has no
roster or list of eligible candi-
dates available, the commission
may authorize the agency to
make the appointment at its
discretion. A person so ap-
pointed does not acquire COM
petitive status, however, he
merely serves suntn an exanli-
nation is given and an eligible
list prepared unless the commits
sion fails to give an examination
Abuses Possible.
Here is the possibility Of
abuse. A department head may
! decide not to- fill by promotion
a position that normally is filled
in that way; there may be no
eligible list available and he
then can make a discretionary
appointment to a position off,
ciahy within the career service.
! Thus the privilege of making
outside appointments, which is
not undesirable in itself. may be
abused. II the Civil Service Com
mission is short of funds and
staff, it may never get around to
giving examinationsfors positions
which although important are
not numerous. Members of CotT.,
gress who are not impressed with
the need for merit system may
be strong advocates of economy
when the commissions budget is
up for approval. Appointments in
the absence of register NAV
thus encroach upon the basic
-
Evening star., 1955-02-22

gress could
decide for it
self. 81
The Person.
mel Task Force
was headed by
Prof. Harold
w. Dodds and
included out
standing citi-
ZeQS lTOW III
dustry, educa-
ton and pub
lie affairs.
Here are ex-
cerpts from
the task force
Evening star., 1955-02-22
The Federal Spotlight
Hoover 7 ask Force Denounces
Merit System Political Raids
By Joseph YOUNG

The Hoover Commissions Federal Personnel Task Force has
strongly political ntrusons the civil service system
and strong steps strengthen the merit system
from such attacks.
The Hoover Commission did ndorse these proposals in its
Evening star., 1955-02-22

Rain expected today the Eastern Seaboard from
Northern Florida the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys
parts the Central Plains Snow forecast for most
of the Northern Plains in the Northern Central
Rockies The Northwest Pacific Coast will have showers 1t
in the Lower Mississippi Valley and Southern
Pains colder Northern
Rockies.
Evening star., 1955-02-22

Record Temperatures This Year.
Highest. 81. on Jan. 2. Feb. 10.
Lowest. ~. on February 3.
HiEh and Low of ~ Hours Ending
\ AM. Today.
High. So, at 2:l5 pm.
Low. A., at $40 am.
Tide Tables,
Furnished by United States Coast an
CYe0detic Survey,
Evening star., 1955-02-22
When hope is
Weary with waiting

To those whose hope is weary with wait
e ing Christian Science offers new and unlimited
promise.
A thankful host-your Christian Science
Evening star., 1955-02-22

hso-called Mccarthy committee,
has vigorously denied this.
4. While he has lied often in
the past. he was now telling the
truth.
Evening star., 1955-02-22

ever, the Hoover group did send
along its task force findings and
recommendations, so that Con-
Evening star., 1955-02-22

pennsylvania Turnpike-Foggy
and wet in spots.
River Report
From U. s Engineers)
Potomac River cloudy at Harpers Ferry
and at Great Falls; Shenan doah cloudy
at HarperS Ferry. n
Humidity.
tReadings Washington National Airport }
Yesterday Pet. To-day Pct
Noon 81 Midnight ~
4 pm. ------ % am. .--. 9S
pm. - 81 10 am. 81
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-19
EXTRA
MILK PROTElNs

Little bodies growing like .
weed" need Sunbeam's extra milk
proteins :. to build firm muscles
help ward off childhood ILL
nesses-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-19
County Sets
Flood Farley

Remedies to reduce high
waters at Peace Cross during
$1,000, . -. Anacnst,a
.ssA $500
nood controi prolecs WIN DC ois-
cussed next week by the Prince
Georges County Commissioners
s,a otHc,a,. a two hi-countv
-.
aeencies'
The commissioners, AFTER lis-
tening to complaints Of q Bla-
dershurg nronertv owner an
.s 49,. ..,,,,.,,s 49,. - .
sloeiiceu .iies Wou,e ~ - :
pm. October ~ Witn oniclais o.
the Washington Suburban Sali-
tary Commission and the Nary
=,a,,d .,,st,ore, fsan,ta, park ana
.s rs-'... 49,
Flannns Solnnlssioi ~ Tug
utility's Hyattsville once.
William r. Banville, owner Of
water soaked land surrounding
the sdrenched intersection. told
the county heads the area has
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-19
MARYLAlID- VIRG GINA NEWS
Area OfficioIs to Confer
On Sewage Problems

be cited as typical Of the water
sewage problems confronting the
area, Mr. Cox said.
The chairman added he ex-
poets much Of the discussion viii
revoiye AROUND the need for In
tegrating sewage disposal and
water suuply plans Of all the
political jurisdictions Of the
Metropolitan Area. :
1t viii be emphasized IN this
connection. however, that the
Joint committee contemplates no
Invasion Of the authority Of
these areas. Mr.. Cox said.
At 4 meeting 6f the Regional
Planning Council. which laid
plans for tomorrow,s session,
members decided TO study anew
q location for q second major
airport To serve Washington.
The idea was suggested By
Donald s. Gingery Of the Mary
land National Capital Park and
Planning Commission. Mr.. Gin
gerry expressed impotence with
the Federal Governments indie
|cision over q site since the last
big discussion involving the
Burke tVa.1 location as opposed
Ito Friendship Airport outside
Baltimore.
THE council agreed that 1t,
land use and mass transportation
studies OF the area cannot pro.
coed until an airport site Il
definitely chosen.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-19
less, bot to Day more chan q, ooo

1853, not TO pay more than $4,000
Ian acre.
One board member, Mrs. Louise
ID. Yuill, recalled that the "gift"
|Of the land made quite an inn
preston on us" at the time be-
cause Of the nature Of 1t. She
noted that. with that assump-
ton, the school board gave its
|okay to the project and the
developers thus were able to have
the property rezoned.
you have us over q barrel, !"
she told Mr.. Frank. I'VE have
to put schools there"
Mr.. Frank said there already
are sos homes there and another
500 under construction. He said
present plans call for more than
1000 homes In all, which he
hopes to complete by the end
of next year.
The school board plans to
build an elementary school on
the 12-acre tract and a junior
high school on the l6-acre site.
Because OF the need for schools
there, it instructed its attorney,
Edward Nylen. to confer with
Mr.. Frank on the deeds Of trust
question and to prepare q new
option at the $4,000 figure.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-19
Washington County
Bars Tux Court Plan

HAGERsToWN. oct. 10 H1.
The Washington County COM
missioners yesterday turned
down, 30, a proposal that a
county tax review court be sci
up.
w. Lee Elgin, president Of the
board. proposed that tax pro-
tests be heard by an independ-
ent tax court. He argued it would
get the board out OF. politics
In property assessments.
Montgomery and Baltimore
Counties HAVE tax courts review
ing assessments.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-19
BY JOHN w. STEP

An estimated 40 representatives
of Government agencies and
other interests concerned with
the water supply and sewage dis
|posal problem Of the Washington
area are to attend a joint meet
ing tomorrow Of the National
Capital Planning Commission
and the National Capital Re-
|gional Planning Council.
The session will start at 2 pm.
In the planning commission
Offices In the Interior Depart
|ment Building. Nineteenth and
10 streets NV.
william J. Cox Of Loudoun
County. chairman Of the joint
meeting, said it is being held In
response to q request by 1t. Gen.
Is. ID. Sturgis. Chief OF Army
Engineers.
BY letter to the NCPC In Au-
gust, Gen. Sturgis expressed
deep concern over proposed con-
lstruction Of housing and Office
Developments at such points
along and near the Potomac
River that would result In the
dumping Of sewage into the
stream. Washington's source Of
drinking water, above the water
intakes. The Army. through thu
Washington District Engineer, ii
Responsible for the wholesome
ness Of the water supply.
Gen. Sturgis asked at the time
that the planning commission
|..disc0urage and preclude" such
Developments.
MIR. Cox said the purpose Of
the meeting Is two-fold. Up fol-
first consideration is the imme-
Idiate problem Of river pollution
and water supply. Second, the
group will discuss long-range
Questions involving betterment
|of the water supply and disposal
lof sewage.
Such recent potential threats
Ito the river as the now-stalled
housing subdivision on Scott
Run. q tributary Of the Potomac,
and proposed construction Of q
500, 900 kilowatt power general
ling station near Great Falls, viii