The Washington herald., 1921-06-14

|TNHE bills OF Senator Sterling and Represent
ative Lehbach identical in their system
i of classification, grades and salaries Diff
erng only as to the Introductory provisions for the
administration and operation of the law it would
seem essential, and not difficult, that they should
Aget together and agree as to these matters In
comparing these bills, will refer to them by
tho authors without the courtesy prefix
and simply use examples without going into detail,
Or covering all differences.
u rlipg covers in its scope the entire civil list
luding labor, skilled and common and the Dis
Ct municipal government" This would probably
cept the schools which not under the muni-
pal government, though education is named in
be professional service class. The District teachers
hrst objected to inclusion. Now it is said they
would like to under the bills provisions.
Certainly it would decidedly increase their salaries
both in minimum and maximum. Lehlbach excepts
specifically the postal service teachers and labor
Sterling makes the civil service commission
sthe classification agency with broad powers as to
duties and qualifications, combine or derentiate
classes, to establish ones, to abolish those
provided, to allocate positions with regard to simi-
larity OF duties and qualifications and to fix salaries
within the range Of the standard schedule specified
in the bill In fact the administration seems to
be placed with the commission which is required
to act in consultation with the heads of depart
Inents, and as to re-alocation with permission Of
the President, and, as to compensation, with ap-
proval OF the secretary Of the treasury.
= This provides most desirable Hexibility. 1t
does not make hard and fast law, sure in its ap-
plication to have faults and injustces. 1t gives
remedy and quick adjustments without appeal to
congress. 1t but guards against any imitation of
expenditure without congressional knowledge and
formal appropriation 1t might enable the COM
mission to reduce the number of employees and
correspondingly increase the compensation of the
remaining number Indeed this appears to be
recognized, and it is something which it would
seem might be desirable for the good of the
Service The curb here may be the provision per-
mtting but increase of salary in a year. but
this too might be from minimum to maximum, or
from grade to a higher if the commission so
held Within the standards of compensation fixed
by the bill and the total OF appropriations, the
commission appears to be made very free agent
Lehlbach has quite different method Of ad-
ministraton. 1t is much less elaborate and not as
specific. 1t does restrict salary advances. 1t
limits the civil service commission to only such
powers naturally fall within the reasonable
scope OF the civil service law, to eligibility,
traning. experience, efficiency, rating, etc. Trans
lers and promotions shall conform these rules,
and the provisions OF this law so far they are
applicable"
Lehlbach uses the bureau OF budget, the new
the financial side rather than the service side as
his administration agency jointly with the depart
nent heads These heads are to allocate positions,
fixing compensation, these to be revised and ap-
proved by the bureau This process is largely the
Same for the District and the field lists. But a new
body is created-the federal wage commission
appointed by the President during his pleasure
with one member from the body OF employees. to
tx the compensation of those to whom the fixed
y IL
trades and workmen. The controlling
purpose seems to be to place much admnistra-
tive authority possible with the department
heads with the budget bureau as brake.
=, These two plans thus distinct in their ad-
n1inistratve points of view. The Lehlbach is
simpler, but less flexible 1t accents the financial
side the Sterling the service side. This is
the way, at least it seems to the rank outsider.
But they are identical in classification and schedules
which are the fundamentals. 1t is to be hoped,
their authors agree between themselves
administration.