Evening star., 1920-08-08

Herbert e. Morgan. O. 8. Civil Service Commits
sion in the Annals of the American Acad-
emy of Political and Social Science.
The largest single employer of men
and women in this country is the
United States government. The ex-
ecutive civil service of the United
States now employs approximately
$50, 900 workers, or one in 166 of our
entire population, including the In
sular possessions, or one in seventy
three of all residents on American
soil anywhere. ten years Of age or
over, engaged in gainful occupations.
These calculations are based on re-
cent estimates of the bureau OF
census in anticipation of the results
of .he fourteenth general census.
The largest single branch is the
Post Office Department, with nearly
300, 900 employees. The War Depart
ment has more than 125,00O clv!lan
80, 900 and the Treasury Department
about 10000. No other branch mas as
lmany as $4,000 employees.
At the height of the war expansion
about $4,000 civilians were employed
lin the federal executive service. Fur
thsr reductions aeTtain are that at the pre.War
ieure Of less than 100000 never again
will be reached.
No one knows just now much money
the government pays out annually In
salaries. II the average I, CON Sompen-
roll now amounts to more than
800 .oO0. 900 annually. 1t is estimated
that the average salary earned by the
federal employees in the District Of
Columbia in 1919 was ABOUT $!,SZO.
The general average is placed at
e. 1oo a firure probably too low. be-
camse of the large number of low
aried or -salaried positions in
hranches outside the District Of
Columbia.
| IN aeventy-three of all our workers
Ia c.Iia for the expenditure OF such
1an1a mart of our annual revenues
"a entitled to the most serious con-
sideration.
Tho employment methods of the
rovernment could be improved. Under
the civil service law
0upA OF competitive exam
Methods. nations and appoint
ments on merit has been built up for
the classes of positions covered by
the law. But beyond certification by
the Civil Service Commission for ap-
pointrnent of those applicants who
are proved by examination to be eligi-
bic the merit system is not fully
operative, even in connection with
the positions to which it applies
Hapliazard practices in assignments
of work and in promotions, over
which no central authority has juris-
diction, have brought about ineQuali-
| ties which are discouraging to the
workers This condition and the
relatively low salaries paid by the
government cause a turnover" in
government forces that could not
long be withstood by a private busi-
In all plans for the betterment Of
the civil service there seems to be q
failure to recognize the anomaly pre-
sented by our administrative system
of flling certain inferior positions
through the test OF merit under the
civil service law, and excluding from
the scheme great numbers of the
higher Offices, which should stand as
a reward for meritorious service, but
which, in fact, are often held ae pay.
ment for service to the political party
| in power. Here the government fails
to take advantage OF an opportunity
| to add materially to the strength
and eficiency Of the civil service.
This failure and the lack Of uniform
y Arsgulatlen4 for promotfo9s On norit
q