◆ SpookStack

WASHINGTON, D. Sunday C., NOVEMBER 7, 1946, Miss Perkins Opposes Flemming on Issue Of Personal Freedom for U.S. Employes By Joseph Young Do Federal employes have the right to conduct their lives with as much personal freedom as other) Americans? . No, says Civil Service Commis- rioner Arthur S. Flemming. Yes, contends his newly appointed col- irague, Commissioner Frances Per-. ans. While there has been no open, controversy on the subject, there seems little doubt that eventually the divergence of opinion con the: issue ‘Will be aired officially. One thing ‘that particularly irri- ; tutes commission officials and other ‘op Government executives is Miss’ Perkins' expressed opposition to periodic health examinations and | medica] advice. for Federal workers. Miss Perkins terms it “an intrusion ; an the employe's inherent right of! ‘rivacy in such matters.” Flemming Cites Benefits. Mr. Fiemming and others point yut that it took many. years of up- hil struggle to get the bill provid- ing -for examinations passed by Con- sress last year (the Health Act) and that most Govern- | ment officials have bright hopes, that the new law will mark a mile-: stone in the progress and welfare: of Government workers. ! But this disagreement is only one; ernment workers should be allowed to do what they like after working hours, within reason. Recreation Program Hit. Miss Perkins disapproves the ‘after-office-hours recreation pro- grams planned by Federal agencies for their employes. “Most people are intelligent enough to seek and find their own cultural pursuits,’: she contends. | She.and Mr. Flemming are in! jagreement on some things. For ex- jample, they both believe that there’ is mr place in the Government for: communists, fascists or other dis- loyal elements. They also agree thatd ‘Federal workers do not have the} ‘right to strike against the Govern- } ‘ment. ‘Mr. Flemming warmly approves ‘the Hatch Act forbidding Federal | Workers’ ‘participation in political (campaigns, although he does be- Neve that some of the act’s puni- tive measures are a bit too harsh. 4Contrary to reports, Miss Perkins Randolph’ .- of many points on which the two! } Commissioners apparently do not: seo eye to eye. Mr. Flemming expressed his phi- lesophy on the entire subject re- cently in an address at Boston Uni- versity when he said: “We cannot do away with certain restrictions that we impose on Federal em- ployes and still have a career serv- ice. In fact, they are restrictions which we cannot do:away with and stil have a Government in which the people of this Nation will have confidence.” Excessive Restrictions Opposed. Mr, Fleming, who time and again has appeared before congressional committees to fight for legislation improving the welfare of Govern- absolutely essential to the proper! nis joo?” ment workers, recognizes the dan- | gers of excessive restrictions and_ has cautioned against them. “Restrictions on freedom of ac- FRANCES PERKINS. standard of conduct when they are functioning of Government.” Miss Perkins thinks the Govern- has not expressed her opposition to jthe act, whatever her personal feel- | ings may be. “The law is the law land we must enforce it,” she said. [ ! Danger of Spoils System. | It would seem, however, that Miss iPerkins is not very enthusiastic about many provisions of the act. Mr. Flemming’s stand is that if Federal employes engaged in poli- ;tics it would Jead to the return of the spoils system and the wreckage of the civil service career system. It is on investigation of employes that Mr. Flemming and Miss Per- kins are in wide disagreement. Miss Perkins has accused the commis- sion of asking impertinent and un- calied-for questions on its applica- | tion blacks, particularly about phy- ‘sical defects. , She also is opposed to “snooping” } | Investigators checking up on Fed- eral officeholders and job gppli- ,cants. : Queries Called Too Personal. § “What difference does it make tc us if a man entertains ladies in his room?” she asks. “How is this ‘going to refiect on his ability to do Of course, Miss Perkins adds, Federal employes are expected :to concuct themselves “in a man- ‘ment is too inquisitive about the ner befitting ladies and gentlemen.” tion of Federal empioyes should not Private lives of its employes. In a But Miss Perkins, who has the dis- »be imposed on the spur of the: moment,’ Mr. Flemming declared’ recently, “They should be thought: through carefully, and should only; become a part of the accepted C2 AIS-94. 4 recent chat with Federal personnel officials, she charged the Govern- ment with prying into the per- song] lives of Federal emploves. She also said she believed that Gay- roa Sateen. ,tincticn of having been the only ‘woman cabinet member in the Na- tion's history when she served un-4 ,der President Roosevelt as Secre-| ,tarr of Labor, believes that the Government does loo much snoop- ing into affairs “that are none of its buemess ” * * c Ge vernnent... ) This is a clipping from @ A-l5 of th Bae et Bees eenen 17-46 lipped at the Seat of — cee eee oe