Evening star., 1920-07-13
|RECLASS|F|CAT|ON
| AR0USES QUESTION
| OVER CIVIL SERVICE
Federal Employees Council
Considers Future Authority
of Commission.

Consideration of the future of the
Civil Service Commission. especially
as it would be constituted under re-
the mafn business today of the execu-
tive council of the National Fedora
ton of Federal Employees. in session
at 1923 New York avenue this week
Whether tlseae5x6ssssrvice body is to
become a sort of .'overiord' of the
remainder of the government depart
ments and establishments or whether
it will retain it's present functions
without radical enlargement was
thoroughly gone into by the executive
council members, who come from all
parts of the United States.
High officials of the government IN
recent weeks have secretly been har-
boring the feeling that if the report
and bill OF the reclassi fication COM
put the Civil Service Commission in
such position that it will have al
most mandatory powers over the af-
fairs and personnel of the govern
ment departments here.
Gives Increased Powers.
The reclassificati ton report and bill.
which are being urged for adoption at
the next session of Congress, give to
the commission increased powers, and
extend the scope of the civil service
body very much, especially as regards
the advancement Of employees. A
court of appeals is provided for, .and
other features. 1t is the belief of
some that entirely too much power
would be granted the commission.
1t may be stated that much resent
ment has been felt by high officials in
various branches over the powers
given the Civil Service Commission
in the report and bill of the reclassi-
fcation commission. 1t is confidently
expected that some time next fall
protest will be made on behalf of
gress.
, Members of the executive council
of the National FEEDER alton of Federal
Employees, after full discussion of the
matter. expressed the belief that,
despite the feelings of some of the
haps these feelings are uncalled for,
and that the Civil Service Commission
itself has no desire to misuse any
powers which might be given it.
Amliatfon Recommended.
The executive council of the fedora
tion today adopted resolutions recon-
mending to all of its local unions
that they affiliate with the state
of labor and with the city
central labor unions. Federal En-
ployes' Union, No. 2, the first and
largest federal employees union in
this city. is affiliated with the Central
Labor Union here. and has Burd w.
Payne it's president, as delegate to
the central body.
Many of the federation's nearly two
hundred local unions throughout the
country, however. are not affiliated
with their state federations or with !
the central labor unions. Closer af- !
filiation all along the line with the |
trade unions and the American Fed |
Grafton of Labor is seen in the action |
of the executive council today.
Until we know what the proposed /
third party has to offer we are not |
it any more than we have |
the republican or democratic |
party" said President Luther c. |
Steward of the federation last night. |
1--WE are. of course. following with |
in Chicago Meantime we are trying i
to find out what the republican and |
parties mean by what they |
nave said concerning the civil service" |
Mr.. Steward said today that the fed |
Grafton will not announce its support /
Of any party for month, at least.