Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-07
4 Redistribution Needed.

1.-The underlying cause which operates
against promotion regulations based upon
merit is the fact that there is no standard
classification of clerical work. Promotion
does not mean advance in grade of work,
but simply an increase of salary; hence the
difficulty of comparing the work of clerks
for promotion. Throughout the depart
mental service we find that there are many
instances of clerks doing exactly the same
grade of work at $1,000 or $500 that they
were doing when they entered the service
at the lowest salary. Hence before there
can be a uniform system of promotion upon
merit there must be a Redistribution based
upon the character of the work done
Promotion would then be made from
one grade to another, and the work of per-
sons employed within special grade could
be fairly and justly compared. There
should be subdivisions within the grades,
these subdivisions to be based upon diff
ference in salary, that there would be
opportunity for reWarding an efficient clerk
within his special grade by gradual Increase
up to the highest salary within the grade
The question of promotion examinations
likewise rests upon the Redistribution of
work. In some divisions the work is now
so classified that promotion examinations
have been found very successful, as, for in
stance, the examining division of the pat
ent office, where the work is of a purely
technical character, and the examination
shows accurately the ability of the clerk.
confined to subjects which do not test the
executive or administrative qualifications
required in the position for which the eX-
animation is taken. If such qualifications
predominant a competitive examination is
useless. because those qualifications are de-
veloped by experience and are best known
to the appointing or promoting officer.
General Principles Set Forth.
Under existing conditions each depart
ment must adopt such a system as will
most nearly meet It's special requirements.
Wherever the character of the work can be
classified, and promotions made from grade
to grade, in such instances examinations
should be held. Where the amount and
quality of the work is susceptible of math
ematical determination the daily record is
continuous examination, and the registers
for promotion should be made from those
records.
THE rule of seniority for promotions
should not govern, except in cases where all
other qualifca tons equal that the
appointing officer is unable to determine
what clerk is entitled to promotion. Such
instances are rare. A strict observance of
the seniority rule must of necessity result
in inefficiency and approximation. 1t is to
be remembered that reductions as well as
promotions must be considered, and very
often the rule of seniority prevents the re-
| duction to a lower grade or salary of clerk
| who is yearly or daily growing, by reason
of age, more inefficient.
Interference by Transfers.
| THE practice of transferring clerks 10
| places other than in the lowest grade is an
| other factor in preventing the successful
| enforcement of promotion regulations. 1t
| is hoped that the recent regulations regard
| ing transfers will prevent much of the in
| Justice caused by the old system of trans
| fers, made almost wholly for the personal