The Washington times., 1913-01-17

NCOnllnueQ from ISI fdSt-J
It is inevitable that the minor force will
fall under detrimental political influ-
ences."
Need Extra Clerks.
Efficiency ratings provided for all
workers in the Government service at
the last session of Congress cannot be
instituted by the commission until
twelve clerks for the inauguration of
the system are made available. The
commission has had efficiency rating
under consideration. for several months
and has prepared its recommendations
for their inauguration, but needs addi-
tionai clerical help. It is estimated that
seven clerks viii be needed TO keep up
the ratings. after the system is installed.
These ratings will place every worker
on an efficiency basis, and all promo
tions and demotions will be made on
the ratings
The escomrnission recommends that the
force tof. the Library. of Congress be
CLASSIFIED. 81
The Scomfnissicn recommends the
establfshment and maintenance in its
o13oe OF an uprto<date OFFICIAL register
OF the United States in card-index form,
which maybe available for ALI pub
lie and legitimate private purposes, and
from which, such publications may be
readily compiled as from time to time
may be deemed necessary. The commits
sion points out that the register would
thus be-.kept more ups'to date and at
a smaller expenditure than is possible
under the present system.
Merit Plan Popular.
The commission cites as an indica-
ton of the popular approval OF the
merit system that of the whole num-
ber of public employees in the United
States-Federal, State, county, munich
pal, and village-not far from COO 900. or
nearly two-thirds of the entire number,
are withdrawn from the spoils system
and appointed upon a merit basis un-
der laws intended to regulate and i'm
prove the public service. The expert
ence obtained in the administration of
the merit system by more than 200
civil service commissions under varying
conditions has demonstrated the value
ing weI1-qualified persons for all classes
of positions, especially for the higher
expert positions.
The commission, in stating its needs,
has asked Congress to make the sal
aries of the commissioners 5000 each,
the chief examiner $500. and the secre-
tAry 50, 900; to provide fifteen additional
clerks. and to slightly increase the aver
age clerical salary to furnish an incen-
tive for competent clerks to remain in
the service.
The commission also desires that its
twelve district secretaries shall be desig-
mated as such and appropriated for at
salaries ranging from S2.00O TO S.400
each, such action being in conformity
with the importance of these Offices and
with the responsibility resting upon the
incumbents- r. r4as S~r FTs
Cost of Examination Small.
In comparing the results of the United
States Civil Service Commission with
those under the British, system. the
commission states that it cost s5.H dur
ing the year 1910 to examine each can
didate for the British service, and that
the cost to the Government of the
United States is about .l6 each each.
The Sota1 annual appropriation for the
commission for all purposes is about
one-tenth of ! per cent of the annual
appropriation for salaries of employees
in the competitive CLASSIFIED service 1t
is this seen that the cost for each indi-
vidual ernploye withdrawn from the
spoils system and put In the classified
service is very small. The cost of civil
service administration, in this country,
although covering a wider field of opera
tons, is much less than in any other
country