Evening star., 1920-03-12

the government mas put lCoh An lHe
position of wasting funds on the one
hand and doing serious Injustice TO
individuals on the other. ana OF TAIL
sfnr to get that degree Of efficiency In
administration that . more equitable
fand uniform wage policy would bring
about.
LenGth o4 Days OveFtiDe.
AS to certain conditions Of employ
sment having bearing on compsnsa-
tiou, tho commission nnds (ses Ch.
-Iv):
13. That seven hours constitute .
norr days work for the clerical and
professional groups Of employss: eight
hours for the manual Overtime work
receives no extra compensation except
gat the government printing ONCE and
the bureau OF engraving and printing.
Night work receives the Same com-
sensation as day work except at the
government printing once.
IA. That employees, ON the average,
receive nearly the full thirty dAys'
annual leave allowed BY law, that only
about , per cent Of the employees take
ed by law. that nearly 30 per cent OF
the employees take NO sick leave, and
that certain groups OF employees now
receive no sick leave.
Is. That government employees en-
JOY greater permanency ana security
of tenure than employees in Industrial
or commercial eetahlisAmentA
16. That opportunities for ADVANCE
-ment, either in salary or -sank. for
those of marked efficiency do not COM
pare favorably with the opportunities
Offered to persons Of the same ability
in the commercial world. In the op-
eportunity for development Of profess
aHional or scientific careers the gov
zernment service has In many ways .
-Aistinct advantage, which In. however,
offset to some extent by certain per-
sonal restrictions generally unknown
In the academic and business world.
Convenienees Lacking.
: II. That government buildings in
Washington are generally clean and
well kept. with sunlcient toilet and
washing facilities, but that as re-
CARDS such important matters as
aEorking space. illumination, ventila.
zion. rest rooms and medical and
surgical emergency relief there 10
neither adequate provision nor ac-
repted standard.
: is. That the government is paying
heavily in the form of employee
compensation. as we'll as In loss Of
time and efficiency. for its failure to
adopt thoroughgoing safety pro-
gram. In safe construction, safety in
government falls far short Of meeting
the standards set by the more pro.
leressive states. municipalities and
,Driyate employers.
y As to those policies and measures
that control governments return In
seficient personal service. the COM
mission finds (see Chap. W:
= 10. That various governmental es-
Establishments show lack OF co-ord1-
nation within and between various
2units resulting in apparent duplica-
4ion of work and supernumerary en-
q 90. That the Civil Service Commits
s6ion has pursued a progressive policy
I'm the selection of employees, but that
lack Of funds hinders further perfec-
zion Of examination methods; that
the probationary period 10 not USED
nffectively as an integral part OF the
sprocess of selection.
L 81. That there is no systematic pol
icy of introducing new appointees to
their work nor Of training them for
new duties, although certain progress
Bive governmental organizations are
proving the feasibility and value OF
such training.
Z %. That in spite of the necessity
of some satisfactory method OF test
ing efficiency as a basis for salary in
creases and promotions, efficiency
rating systems are not in general use.
and where they have been adopted
are commonly regarded as of Ques-
tionable value.
23 That no uniform practice exists
in the advancement of eficient en-
ployes in either salary or rank. both
of which are commonly referred TO
us promotion: that salary advance
ments proper are controlled by ad-
ministrative officers. while true pro-
motions are usually made as the re-
suit of non-competitiye examinations.
and that lack of assurance that en-
cient work will receive suitable re-
ward Injuries the morale and reduces
the efficiency of the entire service.
Retirement System Needed.
-. That the governments failure
10 adopt a retirement system for
civilian employees has proved costly
inef,iien: and destructive to the
morale of the force.
25. That present restrictions or
transfers tend to make the service
fmmobilc. TO the detriment Of both
the employees and the government
and that no attempt is made to han.
die. Dy transfers. the problem Of sea
soma. work in the various depart.
mentS.
&c. That there is a striking lack oi
any comprehensive personnel polio,
administered by q central personn q
agency and having in view increased
efficiency through standardixinE and
supervising the various conditions o,
employment and through enlisttng the
. cooperation Of the employees
4