The Washington times., 1915-04-02
APPORTIONMENT OF THE JOBS

"a SCep IOWdfu genuine eIllclency,
not of the campaign talk kind, was
taken when two Government de-
partments, the Postoffce and Treas
ury, accepted the suggestion of the
efficiency division of the Civil Seiv-
ice Commission that individual rat
ings be given both jobs and en-
ployes. n
So far, so good. No fairer nor
better method has yet been advanced
for properly classifying, paying, and
judging the output of those en-
ployes already in the service. But
how about those who will come in?
Next to placing the employees you
have, any efficiency expert will tell
you, is the problem of hiring new
men. So it looks as if the Civil
Service Commission was going only
half way when it superimposes this
careful classification on top of the
apportionment system now in vogue.
To their distress, most Washing
ton folk know about the workings of
this apportionment method of en-
gaging Government workers. 1t
means that jobs are apportioned ac-
cording to population of States, Ter
ritOries, and the District of Colum-
bia. So if you take a civil service
examination, make 95 per cent, but
are unfortunate enough to live in
Washington, or in Maryland, Penn
sylvania, OF any State where the
apportionment is already filled, some
one in Nevada, or New Mexico, who
may have passed by the skin of
his teeth at 76 per cent, lands the
job. In short, it is the last remnant
of the spoils system.
Washington folk have urged the
abolition of this arrangement before.
But the hopeful part about the pres
ent situation is that Herbert d.
Brown, head of the efficiency di-
. vision, and sponsor of the new effici-
ency ratings as suggested to the
Postoffice and Treasury Depart
ments, when he was member of
the economy and efficiency commits
sion strongly advocated the abolition
of the apportionment scheme. He
pointed out it was a handicap to
getting efficient employees in the
first place, and no future readjust-
ment could quite atone for this
initial misstep.
Former commissioners have vail
antly stood by the apportionment
plan. Recently some notifications
have occurred, but the principle OF
so many jobs per State remains un.
touched. An examination of the
law on this subject shows that the
commissioners have wide leewa,
IN their Interpretation of the appor
tionment plan. The law states ZAP
pointments to the public service
in the departments a.
Washington shall be apportionet
among the several States and Ter
ritories and the District of Columbi:
upon the basis of population a.
ascertained by the last precedin,
census" But a saving clause i
added: "As nearly as the condition
of good administration" will admit
Students of this law have pointe
out that it is wholly up to the Civi
Service commissioners to constru
this clause as meaning that, of tw
d5proportionate examinations, to tn
degree mentioned above, it obvious
ly is in the interests of "good ad
ministration" to choose the man wit
the greatly higher percentage. |
all cases where the difference
slight there could be no harm G
objection to maintenance of tn
apportionment principle.
Washington, of course, has
selfish interest in all this, as hav
nearby States. That may affeC
kkair reason for urging the reform