Evening star., 1921-06-17
MAY PUT DROPPING
' Of j. s. EMPLOYEES
UP TO PRESIDENT
Senators Want More Care
Paid to Family Relationships
in Making Discharges.
40 MARRIED COUPLES
FOUND IN ONE BUREAU
Senator McCumber Reports Twenty
Women in Unit Whose Husbands
Also Work for United States.

President Harding may be requested
by senator's to issue an order resu-
lating the discharge of government
EMPLOYEES, so that in making dis
charges the department heads shall
take into consideration whether more
than one member of the same family
is employed and also the number Of
employes to which state is en-
titled under the appointment law.
The Senate civil service commit
bill introduced by Senator McCumber
Of North Dakota, prescribing the
method to be followed In making dis
charges. was considered. ana also
resolutions introduced by senator
Herreld Of Oklahoma and Senator
the Civil Service Commission to IN,
-vestigate Immediately the dismlssai
of government employees and also oi-
recting the heads of departments 10
keep in their employ civil service en-
ployes from states whose quota Is
short of the number to which they
are entitled.
Senator Sterling. chairman OF the
civil service committee, said following
the meeting that he might suggest 70
the President that he take the matter
up with the various heads OF Depart
ments and make recommendations 10
them, rather than that the President
should issue an executive order.
Senator Harreld and Senator McCum-
ber appeared before the committee IN
support of the measures Introduce
by them. The meeting was attended
also by members of the Civil Service
Commission.
Gives Number Of Married Women.
Senator McCumber told the commit
tee that he considered it necessary
that something should be done TO
compel the discharge OF married wom-
on who have some one TO support
them before the married men ana the
single women are let out OF the serv-
tee He called attention to the TACT
that in one bureau here the records
show that more than forty married
couples are employed. one OF each
couple being employed in this bureau
and the other member in either the
same bureau or some other oepaft-
ment Of the government.
The North Dakota senator charged
also that in making fhS ufseharges
the heads of departments and bureaus
allowed themselves to be governed TOO
often by favortism rather than by
efficiency He said that he believed
the civil service commission should
be consulted in making discharges
from the service.
A letter addressed to Senator Nc
Cumber by a government employe de-
clared that in one small unit OF the
internal revenue bureau there are en-
ployed twenty women whose husbands
also are In the government service.
Explains Appointment Methods.
President Martin A. Morrison Of the
Civil Service Commission presented to
the committee a report on the McCumber
bill and the Harrison and Harold rcSo-
luton. The report pointed out that in
the opinion of the commission the ap-
portionment provisions Of the civil service
act do not apply to separations from the
service.
The apportionment of new appoint
ments at Washington is required to be
made to states and territories according
to population as ascertained in the last
preceding census" said the commission
There is no requirement for an
allotment Of employees or positions by
states further than would follow from
an apportionmen of persons entering
the service.
Action Based on Merit.
"As to the proposed provision that
employees be dropped in certain
order, having reference to marital
conditions. members of family in the
service, dependents. etc, and also the
apportionment from the several states.
according to population, it has al
ways been the purpose of our COM
mission that the matter of retention
and separation from the service be
placed squarely upon demonstrated
relative merit, because in no other
way can we see any safeguard or basis
for action. In so far as considera-
tons other than relative efficiency
enter into retention or separation
from the service, then the result is an
impaired public service"
The commission suggested that in a
degree the commissions practice al
ready .accomplishes indirectly an ap-
1ortionment among states in making
separations from the service. The
commission keeps not only a debit ac-
count for each state. but also a credit
account. SO that when any state suf-
fers q loss of representation in the
service by reason Of the separation of
some Of its citizens the tions
are Immediately accredited to that
state.
Present Cut Exceptional.
"It has rarely occurred that any an
prec;able reduction in force in the de-
partments at Washington is required.
CONTINUED on Page 2. Column 81