The Washington times., 1919-12-01
NEW SYSTEM
FAVORED FOR
U.S.EMPL0YES
Advisory Committee Recon-.
mends Changes in Transfers,
Promotions, and Ratings.

The granting OF appeals to the Civil
Service Commission regarding class
Of work by Government employees, the
necessity of efficiency ratings, meth
DDS of promotion, a more equitable
system Of transfer, repeating certain
acts now in force and the placing Of
civil service representatives in each
OF the departments, are recommenda-
tions which have been placed belore
the Congressional joint commission on
reclassification of salaries by advisor,
committees.
An important phase of the recon-
mendation relating to transfers is the
shifting of employees according to sea-
sonable work. At present each bureau
inds ii has a greater volume of work
to do at certain periods of the year
than at others.
Committee RecomAendatiens.
The recommendations placed to the
consideration OF the reclassification
commission are:
Any employe should have the right
to appeal to the Civil Service Commis-
sion for decision as to whether the
work required of that employe comes
within the limits of the class in which
that employe is being paid. The Civil
Service Commission should be pro
vided with power to enforce action
appropriate to these findings in this
respect.
The chief purpose of this is to pro
vide the employe with a remedy for
the assignment of people to work be-
longing to class higher than that in
which employe is paid. Such disloca
rs.r
and the employe is practically helpless.
He would also be helpless under tn,
classification unless he is provided
with specific equipment for protect
ing himself.
Efficiency ratings are necessary for
the proper handling Of annual salary
advancement, promotion and for al
general purposes for MANAGEMENT OF
personnel within the bureau.
Promotions should be to the mini
mum rate for each class, provided
however, that exceptions may b,
made upon approval Of the Civil Serv-
ice Commission.
In the filling Of positions or va.
cancies in classes other than the low
er classes, the Civil Service Commits
sion, after consultation with the re
sponsible official of the bureau or the
organization concerned, shall deter
mine. by suitable and adequate exam
nation, whether the position can b,
adequately filled from the lower
classes and shall certify to the ap.
pointing officer the three elisibIes
whom 1t finds best qualified. Th,
same procedure Is to apply as in orig
nal appointment. II 1t Is determined
that the position cannot be adequate
ly filled by promotion. an open com
petitive examination shall be held.
Character Of Examination.
FINAL authority to determine the
character OF examinations. qualifica.
tions required for entrance into ea
aminations, rating of examinations,
and the extent to which efficiency rat
ings shall be used DIN promotions
shall reside as at present in the Civil
Service Commission under the law.
1t is recommended that provision b,
made for facilitating transfers within
the Federal service. In order to ac-
complished this end the committee
further recommends that the follow.
Ing acts should be repealed:
(a) The act requiring three years
service prior to transfer.
(b) The act of August 26, 1912. pro-
hbiting compensation at a rate in
excess Of that paid for the same ser
vice during the preceding fiscal year
and prohibiting transfer to a position
carrying compensation higher than
previous compensation.
tc) The act of October 6, 1917. pro
hibiting transfers at increased rates
and prohibiting salary increases with
in one year after transfer.
Seasonable work constitutes as
acute a problem In Government ser
vice as in private work, and IL is very
important that the Federal Govern
ment lead the way by giving the sub
1ect constructive study and by expert,
menting with measures which will
mitigeta the evil. 1t Is, therefor
recommended that provision be mad.
for the shifting Of employees accordine
to seasonable needs. This would in
volve investigation and experiment in
connection with seasonable turnover
For this purpose funds should be pro-
yided.
1t is believed advisable for the Civil
Service Commission to have a renre
sentative in each bureau, or group OF
bureaus, as necessity would require
who would:
(a) Prepare all announcements of
special examinations for Departments
(b) Confer concerning the scopC
and character OF the various kinds of
(c) Rate examination papers in CON.
junction with bureau representatives
(d) Keep track of the probationary
period, with a view of reas.ignm.nt
where necessary.
(e) Keep track OF employees with
refereace to reclassification.
fD P-Oduce a better understanding
between the departments and the com.
1t Is expected that the extension
agents of the commission would rem
der important service in questions OF
concerning personal mat
ters.
II Is also believed that authority
should be requested for the commits
sion toact in real personnel capacity
upon request. Each bureau now has
4 personnel officer in the capacity of
an appointment clerk. 1t is possible
that the Civil Service Commission
could act as personnel
officer for the bureaus in connection
with his representation Of the COM
mission. He would thus become In q
real sense . personnel officer.