Speech #760285454

I believe the Civil Service Coinmission could. under the law at present. establish eligible lists for departmental work in Washington for every State. In my mind there is no reason to have simply one list. what we may call a "national list." that is taken from all the States of the Union. and let the Commission select from this list the three highest applicants. It strikes me that the Civil Service Commission has the authority. and if it does not have the authority it should be given the authority. to establish eligible lists as I have just indicated for every State in the Union with respect to the departmental jobs in the city of Washington. and in that way the Civil Service Commission could select from the State lists persons to fill jobs as they become vacant. and I am sure that it would not take many years before the quota system could be balanced in all States. It seems to me there has been no real earnest effort made to carry out the apportionment provisions of the law itself. the spirit of the law. although some improvement has been made. I grant to the Senate. but I believe further improvement could be made along the lines I have just suggested.