Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-08-08
URGE CONGRESS
To RE-CLASSIFY
CIVIL employees
United States Chamber of
Commerce Urges Equal
Pay for Equal Work and
Promotion Only on Merit.
lBy INC AssocIated Pee.

Washington, Aug. r. very
member of congress has been noti-
fled by the United States Chamber
Of Commerce through q letter sign
ed by Elliott II. Goodwin, resident
vice president, that referendum
to the 1,400 member organizations
of the chamber, composed of 700,-
900 firms and individuals in all
parts of the United States. shows a
vote overwhelmingly urging a re-
classification and regarding of the
federal civil service on the basis of
adequate pay to the employees,
equal pay for equal work, and
proved merit for promotion.
Information to this effect was
received today by the National
Federation of Federal Employees
from the headquarters of the Unit
ed States Chamber of Commerce.
Eight Of the nine points covered in
the referendum are advocated by
the National Federation of Federal
Employees, which fact. 1t is pointed
out, is significant agreement on
principles of employment and man.
agement between the biggest and
most representative body of bust
ness men and employers in the
United States, and the organized
wage earners employed by the
United States government. The
referendum was formulated on the
basis of the report of the commit
tee on budget and efficiency OF the
United States Chamber OF Com
merce, whose recommendations
have in view increased efficiency
in government. The nine recon-
mendations adopted are as follows:
1. Recasting of the present en-
ployment policy of the government
in securing and managing per-
sonnet.
2. Adequate and uniform pay
under essentially like conditions.
8. Reconsideration by statute
based on investigations already
made (by Joint congressional com
mission), and further investigation
by the civil service commission.
4. Reclassification to be in
stalled by civil service commission
and budget bureau. and current
correction by congress aided by
these agencies.
s. Promotion to be given stat
utory recognition as the preferred
method for filling vacancies, with
lines Of promotion clearly defined
and promotion made upon the
basis of proved merit under civil
service regulations.
6. All administrative officers
not responsible for determining
policies to be included under civil
service rules.
Z. Transfers between depart
ments to be regulated by executive
orders consistent with the civil
service law.
s. Efficiency records to be de-
veloped by the civil service COM
mission.
8. Removal of an employee
should be possible upon a written
statement of reasons to- the en-
Eloye with opportunity for written
reply, but without right of appeal
above the head of the department.
The referendum has just closed.
The balloting shows, according to
a special bulletin just issued by the
United States Chamber of Com
merce, that all nine of the propo-
sitionS were carried by at least 80
per cent of the votes cast. The
last recommendation. No. 9. deny
ing appeal outside the department
in cases of dismissal, Is the only
one on which the Chamber of Com
merce and the National Federation
of Federal Employees disagree and
1t drew more opposition in the
chambers referendum than any
other. The organized employees
are asking congress for a court of
appeals within the civil service
commission as the final authority
on dismissals.
All the other principles advo-
Gated by both organizations are
embodied in the Sterling-Lehbach
reclassification bills now under
consideration by the civil service,
committees of house and senate.