STATE TRIES A FAST ONE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00149R000600040036-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 15, 1998
• Sequence Number: 36
• Publication Date: June 3, 1965
• Content Type: NSPR

NORTHERN
VIRGINIA SUN
Sanitized -, A p roOel36gor Release
CPYRGHT
:~lle~a-Scot Itejioi?1`'
State Tries.
A Fast One
CPRGHT _'and PAUL SCOTT I.
An amazing piece of legislation ' Unpublished charts prepared
Is being seriously considered by a,. by Crockett-which some mem-
House Foreign Affairs Subcom-,bers of the Foreign Affairs Hays and strongly' backed
mittee, headed by Representative, 'Committee haven't even seen: u tive the White Houro, would:
Wayne Hays, D -O. -illustrating the scope and I .
Unknown to the public at range of the far-reacting legis-,1- "Make It absolutely impossi-.
large-as well as most mem- lation label the proposed new '.1 ble for Congress . or Its duly
;bars of Congress - this mea- super foreign service. as "The constituted committees to make
sure has all the earmarks of , (State) Department and Domes- ( any sort of independent inquiry:
being the biggest "sleeper" of, tic Wield Establishment" and into the ? personnel, administra-
President Johnson's wide-rang- the 'Overseas. Field Establish- -five or other actions of the do-
ing legislative program. 'merit." 'partment.? Thousands of skilled.,
On the ground of establish- ' In the past State Department knowledgeable, dedicated pub-
i
"
ng.
one personnel system for
the Department of State and to
improve the ? morale of its em-
ployees," this extraordinary bill
-Create a new -V.., ?`?`e screened and audited reports;
super foreign Department security officer ,service by blanketing in thou-. whom Crockett has long been and statements from' the very
sands of civil service employes tryln' to oust for allegedly directly i?Qsponslble
I
II - giv. '---
i
all
t
t
.
r
u
y guaran
ees
22 other government agencies. measure would strip that th@ Department of State':
among' them the Peace Corps, Otepka, and all other affected; will speak with one voice and,,!-
U.S. Information Agency, Agen- civil service employes, of tficir~ as a result, Congress will be
Icy for International Develop-. present right ' to discuss their dealing with a duly constituted
ment (in charge of foreign aid), cases with members of Coll.' 'mouthpiece'."
E
t-i
xpor
mport Bank, Federal
Aviation A g e n c y, Maritime
Commission.
-Strip these civil service em-
ployes of their veterans' pref-
.erence, job security and other
safeguards under existing laws.
Under this measure, they could'
be arbitrarily fired within days
on the charge of being incom-
petent, inadequate or otherwise
undesirable.
--JMake the Deputy Undersec-
authorities have emphatically ? lie servants would -be effective-'
denied' 'the existence of an. es-.- ly sealed off Irom Congressional'
inquiry and contact,and all
tablishment" in the department.' --_---
grass under the provision: Inc i Principal hatcheting , provi-
right of persons employed 'in: lions of the measure are Sec-'
th
civil
i
- '-_ .. .. __ --
e
serv
ce eithe
?1;'.ually or collectively, to petition; The former empowers the
Congress, or., .any member there-
of, or to furnish information ? toy President ' to transfer f the
new super foreign. service, , with-
either House of Congress, or: to : in three years, all civil service
any comnltttee or member,. personnel of the State' Depart-
thereof, shall not be denied or ment, and the 22 other; govern
interfered with. ' ment ageoles. Those who balk
Foreign Affairs committee'! are subject 'to immediate dis-
t
ei D
i Section To divests them of ex
a rotary of State for Administra. ? `
epar
ment conference, Crockett re ;sting veterans' preference, job'
,tion-now William J. Crockett, marked, "'Once this bill as, 'securityy and other safeguards.
Prin ;pal iutho of the sw a ?.: passed, there will never again, Once part of the proposed new
=new super foreign service, with be an Otto Otepka In the de-,: foreign service, they would lose.
partment." J all these rights and privileges..'
power t o hire, fire, promote,'' This secret axing authority, is; -The Americaii Legion Is evlg '
transfer, and to bar these em- stressed In a memorandum In 'orously on tecord against the
ployes from aiding. congresslon ' the hands of the 'subcommittee.;
' legislation. The, government :em-:
a1 in~estigationa of their'. ages It' points out that - the legisla. ,ployes" Union 'irately ,c rQea; it,
IR,'?-8110l1l0red,'?,by.?,?RCpresetl~A I.,WaC-:bDt't. snltefL.'?s.~rt?.:~s.,l.u.5~t
Sanitized Approved For Release CIA-RDP75-00149R00060004036-6