Evening star., 1960-05-23

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There's a good chance tt
the bill. which would transfer
MISSIONS functions to a new {
House. The csc would become
an appeals and investigative
agency.
While there is no chance
for the bill to become law this
year, Senator Clark, Democrat
Of Pennsylvania, the bills spon-
sor. feels approval by the COM
mittee would be a big step
toward what he hopes will be
Eventual enactment.
Psychologically speaking. it
would en- hance the bills
chances in future sessions of
Congress.
Under the Clark bill, the
responsibility for all policy de-
cisions and the operations of
the Governments personnel
system would be concentrated
in the White House, under the
direction of an executive di-
rector appointed by the Presi-
dent and confirmed by the Sem
ate.
The csc would have the du-
ties of making continuing in
vestigations in the personnel
practices of Government de-
partments and agencies and
periodically disclosing its find
ings and recommendations to
the President and Congress.
Also, the csc would have
the authority to hear all en-
ployeS' appeals on adverse
agency actions, and the power
to crack down on offending
agencies and enforce its deci-
sionS.
There is no doubt that the
Clark bill has made important
strides since it first was intro
duced several years ago. While
a majority of Federal employe
groups still oppose it as a
threat to the merit system, it.
has gained support in Congress
and even among some employe
organizations.
Senator Clark says his bill
would strengthen the merit sys-
TEN by giving the csc broad
powers to crack down on agen-
cieS violating employe rights.
Also, employees would be given
extensive appeal rights they do
not have now, he declares.
He also contends that plac-
ing the operation Of the Gov
ernment's personnel system in
the ONCE Of the President
would result in a more realistic
Federal personnel program Il
and one with much greater
prestige and authority.
THE LITERARY WHIRL-I
Postmaster General Summer
field has written a book on the
history of the postal service.
1t will be published by Rhine
hart in September. Royalties
will go to charity which has
not yet been selected, Mr.. Sum-
merfleld's aides declare.
Not to be outdone, William |
c. Doherty, president of the |
Association of Letter
Carriers, has written a book,
'Mailman-U.S.A.," a story of
the NALC from its inception to
the present time and of the
battles and problems the group
has encountered in its drive to
improve the benefits and work.
ing conditions Of letter carriers.
The book will be published in
August by David Mckay and
Co. The profits go to the NALC
building fund.
DEFENSE EMPLOYS
There's an excellent chance
hat the Senate Appropriations
Committee will ease consider
ably the civilian employe job
cuts ordered by the House for
Defense Department workers in
.he Washington area.
The-House has ordered a cut |
of 10 per cent, or 3,100 jobs, Il
among departmental civilians
IN the Army, Navy and Air
Force here. And the reductions
are to be made by July /.
However, indications are that |
The Senate will agree to a De-
tense Department compromise
of a S per cent cut for
Army and Navy, to be made
gradually over a 12-month
period. This would mean a loss
of only 1900 jobs. But equally
important. allowing the cut to
be made over a long period of |
time would enable the defense
units to achieve almost all of |
the reduction in personnel by
attritinn-nnt filling some Of |