The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-24
Harding Plans to Develop
Methods to Help the
Civil Service.
ASKS COOPERATION
OF DEPARTMENT.
Transfers of Employees
Needed, Says Head of
Commission. :

To bring the personnel adminis-
tration of the Federal government
! to point where it will compare
favorably with similar departments
in private enterprises, President
Harding issued an order yesterday
creating Federal Personnel Board
under the supervision Of the United
States Civil Service Commission
The purpose. according to the or
der, Is to perfect a liaison between
the several departments and the
Civil Service Commission by the ap-
pointment to the board of one mem
Der Of each department and individ-
ual establishment who shall be
designated by the head of his de-
partment.
| VIII Formulate Policies.
In order to develop a more ef-
fective and economical system of
employment and personnel manage
ment and to promote the general
welfare of the employees, the Federal.
Personnel Board is to formulate
policies and plans designed to place
the personnel administration abreast
OF the best practices In private en-
tsrprises, and perfect methods
whereby the Civil Service Commits
sion will be advised regarding the
success or the failure of persons
selected through Its examinations,
and make provisions for the reas-
signment or the separation from the
service of persons who are unsatis-
factory.
The personnel problems of each
department and establishment are to
be taken into consideration, and the
relation of those problems to the
duties Of each Federal establish
ment to the end that the entire
personnel selection and administra-
tion may be more practical and more
cooperative.
Records systen Planned.
1t 10 planned to deyelop an .d.-
duate system of personnel records
wnich WITH furnish a medium for
enective control of personnel ad-
inihistratfon and provide some ba-
BIC statistics for such matters n.
retirements and disability, appro.
priation estimates, salary rate sd-
justments, etc.
The board will formulate recon-
mendations for the establishment,
ana operation of a service through
which employees may be assigned TO
the several departments or eslab-
Ilshments IN periods of maximum
load. thereby permitting appropria-
tions for the several Offices lo ha
made on the basis of their normal
loads ma
VIII Facilitate Transfers.
1t will make recommendation.f In,
the elimination or modifioat tion ,f
the existing restrictions on trans
Ier from department to department
ana the development of the person
mel inventory system, which win
rsclhtate the assignment of sp.-
ciahy qualihed employees to. those
omces and duties in which tb.,,
services will be of greatest value
to the government
consideration will be given Tn m.
possibilities of training emnloy.s
Tor their positions, with the ob;sc,
or reducing the period before az
empioye becomes an effective yorL
er' and through such training "a
dacing the number of employees re-
quired for the task.
me extent to which il is mao
ticabie to adopt the princIpie Of
promotion from within in MINI
the higher positions in the SERVES
WIN view Of Offering a career
" properly qualified persons who
studied "i oe
Plans for Emcie.cy.
The desirability and nrac,;,..,
ity of developing a system for ~.
more careful review of the selec-
tions for promotion, will be con.
sidered, and the Formulate, -
recommendations and plans -.
sarding hours of service. leave. ~
absence. the privileges under the
retirement act and other mater.
uesigned to obtain effectiveness of
the public service. =
John H. Bartlett, president of m.
civil Service Commission, explained
last night that he had collaborated
with the Bureau OF the Budget in
order to establish an agency that
would Knit the various departments
together.
Will Have 4Fly1nx Squadron,
The principal feature of the plan.
Mr.. Bartlett explained, was that
section which provides for taking
care OF the peak load, which, he ex-
planned. is reached by some depart
ments In certain seasons of the year.
and inorder to be prepared for
these rush seasons, the departments
are compelled to keep the maximum
number of employees on hand at ali
times. The plan under the order
issued yesterday by the Presiden.
is to maintain in the Civil Service
what might be termed a "fying
squadron" SO trained that they will
be available to tide any department
over its sudden demand for more
help. I
The order. Mr.. Bartlett said last
night. would not conflict with any
legislation effecting the Civil Serv-i
Ice that is now pending In Congress.
The opposite would be the case, Mr..
Bartlett thought