Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-11-26
TRAINING School.
FOR j. s. CLERKS
IS RECOMMENDED
Central Agency in Civil Serv-
ice Commission Favored
by Committee.

establishment OF central agency
in the Civil Service Commission for
training of government clerks was
recommended to the joint congress
sional commission on Redistribution
of salaries in the District by the ad-
visory committee on employment pol
icy today
Young clerks and old clerks would
receive training under the plan pro-
posed to the Redistribution commits
sion, and the training would De
wholly or in part on government time.
or, in some cases, entirely at the en-
ploye's expense and time.
Favor $25, 900 to Start 1t.
"The primary function of the train
ing agency would be to stimulate
such work in the different bureaus by
advice and aid in getting the work
started declares the report 1t 10
recommended that the agency should
be given an appropriation of $4,000
for this purpose. and that no hard and
fast rules of legislation be laid down
as to how it shall organize the work
The training school shall be left free
SO that it can engage an able man TO
organize the work along whatever lines
are found to be most feasible, accord
ing to the report.
such an extension of the Civil Serv-
ice Commissions function should in
crease the efficiency of its recruiting
work." it is stated, by bringing about
a closer contact with universities and
with vocational schools with a view of
their shaping some of their courses to-
ward the needs of the government.
Lines of Training Proposed.
These training functions of the Civil
Service Commission would be along
such lines as the following:
Training classes or apprentice
methods for entering employees.
Means (printed descriptions) for CIV
ing new employees an adequate idea of
the functions of the bureau and the re-
lation of the work to 1t.
Training of old employees for greater
efficiency in their work and advance
ment in duties.
Giving younger employees expert
ence in their work, by rotation in
turn from one part of the organiza
ton to another as is done in many
commercial organizations.
Stimulation of new methods and
ideas by means of foreman meetings,
journal meetings, seminars and the
like.
Much of such training will be spe-
officially related to the work of a sim
gle bureau or department. but in some
cases will cut across departmental
lines. Some of the work should be
wholly on government time. some Of
it partly on government time, and
some wholly outside of hours. and at
the employees expense, depending up
On the intimacy OF the training work
with the work of the government.
Encouraging employees in securing
better general education and train
In in
Question a STORMY" One.
The question of training school
for federal employees has been a
stormy one since it was first under
stood, several months ago, to be a
matter into which the Redistribution
commissions advisory committee on
employment policy was looking. Of
ficials point out that training is now
given green employees" in several bu-
reaus.
Stenographers in the government
service here are getting better sal
aries than stenographers in outside
employ in nearby large cities, accord
ing to reports made today by field
investigators of the commission on
the results of canvass of private EN-
ployers.
Other classes Of employees, it seems,
get less wages in the federal service
here than do employees in outside firms
for comparable work. And these
wages being paid on the outside will
be one of the chief determinants in
fixing the wages of the 100000 en-
ployes here who come under the juris-
diction of the Redistribution commits
sion.
Comparative Salaries Discussed.
The question of comparative salaries
was discussed by DR.. w. E. Mosher,
director OF research for the commits
sion, at a meeting of representatives
at the New National Museum yester-
day afternoon.
The government service is a law
unto itself DR.. Mosher declared, be-
cause it does not have to respond to
market conditions" as to employers
on the outside. 1t is thus possible for
the government to set up a norm"
Of salaries on the basis Of equal pay
for equal work, he said. Government
employees can thus face the wage
question in a spirit of pure theory, to
some extent. at least.
A co-ordinating committee, consist
ing of the nineteen chairmen of the
nineteen strictly clerical services, was
elected to try and determine one min
imum and maximum wage scale for
the entire nineteen services.
This committee will meet Friday
night at o'clock at 1923 New York
avenue, when reports will be made on
the salary wishes of clerks in the
various services. There is to be an
other meeting of the general COM
mittee at o'clock Monday afternoon
in the New National Museum audito-
rum.