Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-11-18
Civil Service Reconsideration.

4NONeHlueE TO- IJG l.-EQllOT
Journal; Your paper contained a
notice of the civil service reclassi-
, fication bill which comes up in
congress today. This article stated
that "if passed, it will automati-
cally increase the salaries drawn
by the greater part of the govern
ment employees"
This idea had become prevalent
and many persons have thought it
another grab on the treasury,
and in justice to the 500 or SOC
government employees in New Mex
leo and the many thousands in the
entire country / would like to have
you give sufficient space to show
the real meaning of the reclassifica-
ton bill.
The committee on reform in the
civil service, in reporting the bill
back to the house with the recon-
mendation that it be passed, say in
part:
1.-THE need for a comprehensive
classification of the civilian en-
ployes of the government for the
purpose of equalizing and standard
izing compensation and providing
for a uniform and equitable system
of promotions is universally ac-
knowledged. By the act of March
/, 1919, a Joint commission on re-
classificat of salaries was created
which reported to the houses OF
congress on March IL, 1920. The
following findings of this commits
sion are unquestioned:
"'That the salary and wage
rates for positions involving like
duties and responsibilities and
calling for the same qualifications
show wide variations and marked
inequalities.
"oThat the salary and wage rates
for positions of the same class are
different in different departments
and Independent estapllshineh's'
"'That the present system OF
having bonuses tends to increase
the inequality in salary and wage
rates for positions of same class.
That the government has no
to guide it in fixing the
nav of its employees and no working
Man for relating the salaries to the
character and importance OF the
work.
"That the absence of any uni
form Man or system for regulating
increases in the pay of employees
md the lack of any equitable system
promotions have peeh
factors in causing the dispropror-
ton in pay and work. -, dow
mThe purpose Of the bill under
is TO eliminate lne
causes from which these eVilS
spring. ..,os
"The bill does not seek to cas-
eifv nv title. every position under
the government, but brides tne
in the departments IN
tba district of Columbia and under
he municipal government OF the
district into the following broad ser
vices: Professional, subprotessloiia'
institutional, custoalai IN
spectional, police and criminal III
vestigation and fire service. Eacii VI
those services is divided into graues
averaging six or seven to service,
with an appropriate salary ranso
for each such grade. These ar
,crmed the compensation screu-
lIes." -
Controlled by budget bureau
r,hn task of allocatng the EN-
Moves in a department 10 lliei
nroner grades IN the service IS I'M
nosed upon respective heads OF th'
These ALLEGATIONS
however. are subject to revision ps
the bureau of the budget ana
ebo1I become effective only upon
their approval by said bureau. inc
hureau of the budget, in order ei
fectivelv to revise ani approve al
locations, is given reasonapie ia'i
tuda to make necessary edJlst-
ments. but may nos s'lhstilntianN
amend grades or alter the sa'aly |
ranges. Your committee was un-
willing to entrust to any other
agency of the government Jhdh
the one directly responsible for Cd
ministrative expenditures the finai
review of the work of applying the
classification. :,
The bureau of the budget Is d.
rected to report to congress at the
session following the passage OF
this bill n classification of posi-
sitions in the field analogous to the
compensation schedules provided
for the employees within the DIS
trict.
wage Board for Skilled Labor.
The compensation schedules d.
not embrace employees in recog-
nized trade or craft engaged In
skilled labor. It is deemed mad
visable to fix by statute the COM
pensation for such services because
of the periodic fluctuations IN
their market value. Wages of this
class of employees shall be fixed
and readjusted from time to tim,
by n board of three members APP
pointed by the president, whose
findings are also subject to revi-
sion and approval by the bureau
of tn, budget. This Is an extension
throughout the government service
of the method at present In effect
! practically all governments es-
Establishments wherein such workers
are employed in large numbers,
much as the navy yards and arse
mails.
All employees are to receive
compensation at the lowest rate In
the salary range to which they are
allocated, except in such instances
where they are at present receiv-
ing a higher rate within the
range. Announcements In salary
within the range of grade are to
be made only upon the attain
ment of the standard of efficiency
prescribed for such increases.
Failure to maintain certain pre-
scribed standards of efficiency will
result in reductions in pay or dis
missal, and such reductions and
dismissals are made mandatory
upon heads of departments. In
order to secure uniformity in this
respect, the civil service commits
sion is empowered to consult with
the heads of departments, estab-