New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-24
CIVIL SERVICE AMENDMENT
Federal Commission Thinks 1t vii
Lead to Fair Efficiency Ratings.
. the Editor NJ The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The commission, in expressing us
qualification at your editorial on Tenure
and Efficiency" in the issue Of June l6' de-
sires 10 invite your attention to the text OF
the amendment TO the legislative, executive
and judicial appropriation bill az adopted
by the United States Senate. believing that
YOU are I'm sympathy with the purpose IN
view:
the Civil Service Commission shall, sub
iect 10 tho approval OF the President. estab-
llsh a system of efficiency ratings Tor the
ella sSncd service in the several executive
departments in the District OF Coiumola'
based uDon records kept in each depdI =
ment aud inGependent establishment with
such frequency as To make them as nedIly
as possible records of fact. Such sysIenni
shall provide a minimum ratlng OF en-
cheney which must he attained ny an I'm IN
plove before he may be promoted, II shdn
also provide a maximum rating, below
which no employe may fall without ptl"s
denoted. it shall further provide TOT d
maximum rating below when no tmpi119
may fall without being dismissed Tor IN
efficiency. All promotions, demou"n5 OF
dismisslls shall be governed By provisions
of the civil service rules. Copies Of an
records nf efficiency shall he furnished by
the departments and Independent estab-
lishmcnts 10 the civil Service commission
for record In accordance with the Prov
SONS OF tnlS SflIlOll, PRIV iI'h NilAN ~ ~
g, ent Of reductions being made I'm the fore"
in any of the executive departments no
honorsbly discharged soldier or sailoT
whose record in eaic department IS Taled
good shall he discharged or dropped OF IT.
duced in rank or salary.
The commission believes that this
amendment IL distinctly in the interests
Of economy and the service and that 1t
will be possible 10 establish n fair ana
equitable system Of efficiency ratings BY
reference 10 the text Of the Senate amend
ment Il is seen that promotions, demotons
and dlsmissals are not 10 be determined
by scholastic or academic examinations.
but rather by records NJ efficiency, based
on work done and qualities displayed In
doing II. and that one purpose or the
amendment is 10 avert the danger which
YOU mention. that inefficient persons will
sometimes be retained in the service" etc.
This proposed efficiency system Is calcu-
lated to he continuous and TO provide that
promotions are to go to the most NJ and
that unfit persons shall be automatically
reduced or separated from the service upon
falling below certain specified rating In
efficiency
While II is true as stated IN your ed!-
torial that tho law does not protect the IN
efficient in the service. and. in fact. pro-
vldes that they shall b" dismissed. the
statutes have never provided In definite
and specific terms for an efficiency system
such as proposed in the Senate amendment
by which promotions. reductions and dis
missals shall be automatically governed
Such n system. established by an impartial
tribunal viii afford appointing officers
definite standard upon which TO base any
action involving changes In the personnel
and. because 81 the specific language Of the
proposed amendment. will protect such Of
fcers against political or personal intiu-
ence Such q system has been under care
mi consideration by the commission for q
number Of years and it is believed that It
can be administered economically and with
general satisfaction 10 the service and the
employees.
BY direction Of the commission.
JOHN A. MILHENNY.
Acting President United States Civil Ser
vice Commission.
Washington. June n. 1912