Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-27
Stevenson Hits
6. 0. P. Policies
On Patronage
Merit System Hurt,
He Says in Bid for
Employe Support
BY JOSEPH YOUNG

Adlai Stevenson today made a
new bid for the votes of Govern
ment employees. charging the
Eisenhower administration with
having made patronage inroads
on the merit system and having
sought to deny Federal workers
adequate pay raises.
The Democratic presidential
candidate said he whole
heartedly subscribes" to the
Democratic Party platform which
promises Federal pay adjust
ments and strengthening of the
merit system.
Mr.. Stevenson outlined his
position on civil service matters
at the request of James A. Camp
bell. president of the American
Federation of Government EN-
ployeS, who made public Mr..
Stevenson'S views today. Mr.,
Campbell said he expects to re-
ceive a statement shortly from
President Eisenhower, which also
will be made public.
Patronage Charged
Mr.. Stevenson declared: Dur
ing this administration we have
seen the cream of the career
positions in Government siphoned
of into the patronage trough.
I'VE have seen the White
House issue instructions that the
higher-paid positions in the
career service are not to be filled
until the Republican National
Committee has had an oppor-
tunity to refer approved appli-
cants for these jobs. Career en-
ployes. who had never before
been asked how they voted or
which political party they sup
ported, have found it necessary
to get political clearance from
the Republican National Com
mittee before their promotions
could go through.
"The effect of this has ex-
tended far below the positions
thus eliminated from the career
service. Tens of thousands of
other employees have been dis
couraged from looking to the
Government as a career in which
their advancement would rest
solely on their ability"
Once model Employer"
The Democratic candidate also
said the Government, (which
once was model employer, now
cannot compete on equal terms
with private industry for en-
ployes." He added that "condi-
tons of pay and fringe dement's
keep falling more and more be-
hind comparable positions of
equal responsibility elsewhere"
Mr.. Stevenson chided President
Eisenhower for having twice
vetoed Federal pay raise bills.
Subsequently. Congress approved
pay raise legislation more ac-
ceptable to the administration
and it was signed into law BY
MIR. Eisenhower.
/ Democratic leaders in Con.
greSs have recognized the i'm.
portance of once again makine
the public service an attractive
career, as the legislative record
OF the 84th Congress demon.
strates, Mr.. Stevenson re.
marked. "But hanging overhead
has always been the threat of 9
presidential veto if the legis.
lation passed by Congress ex-
ceeded by too wide a margin the
concessions which the admin.
istration was willing to make"
He charged that the admin.
listration's civil service policies
have discouraged able men anc
women from looking to the pub.
lie service as a career.
No Party Monopoly
mo administration can offel
efficient and economical gov
eminent to the American people
unless it can attract and retaiI
able men and women who art
willing to make a career of pub.
lie SERVICE" Mr.. Stevenson said
mo political party has a monop.
oily on such people. Good gov.
eminent requires a strong anc
nonpartisan civil service. will
employees promoted as well a,
appointed solely on the basis o.
merit"
! The Democratic candidate alsS
said he was deeply impressed
with the problems Of employee.
management relations in Gov.
eminent.
1T seems inconceivable to mi
that the Federal Government
in its role as an employer, ha!
adopted a take it-or-leave-it at.
titude towards organization!
representing its employees" Mr.
Stevenson said. True consulta'
ton with employees and theil
spokesman means comforting
with them before decisions arr
made affecting their welfare anC
working conditions. and no
calling them together to in
form them of the decisions tina
have already been made ant
sometimes even already pub
llicized."
Greek Cypriots Stage