The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-11
c. S.I0MM|SS|ON
REPORT FAVORS
| COMPETITION IN
! HIGHER GRADES

" % ONOV y SVOsOSS NICNNS
More Than Quarter-MilIion En-
ployes Are Released by U. s.
Since Armistice.
Redistribution Of salaries Of Gov.
eminent employees, the Inauguration
Of a comprehensive and up-to-date
employment system and extension Of
the competitive examination system
to most Of the positions now filled
through nomination by the President
are recommended by the Civil Serv-
Z ice Commission in its annual report
made public last night.
100000 Dropped.
More than $780, 900 employees have
been dropped from the Government
rolls since the signing Of the armi-
stice the report shows.
During the past fiscal year, 800, 800
persons were given examinations
under the civil service laws and rules.
and 203,209 attained eligible ratings
and 101,711 received appointment.
On July 81. last, there were 1885
Federal civil service employees in the
District of Columbia and 1851? out.
side of the District, making a total
in the service of 597,482.
Since the signing Of the armistice
cne-fourth Of the appointments under
civil service have been Of former
service men, their widows or wives Of
injured service men.
The commission, In advocating re-
moval of several thousand appointive
jobs from politics sets forth that:
"A wider application Of the principle
of filling the higher administrative
positions, now unclassified. by the
would be distinctly in the interest Of
efficiency, stability and higher stan
dards in the personnel Of the service"
? SO long as the present system OBJ
tains, says the commission. appoint
ments will be based more largely on
political affiliations than business
ability, and there will be no Incentive
to industry and efficiency. since ten
ure will depend upon continuance Of
the party In power.
The commission Is strongly In ia
Sor Of the Reconsideration Of Govern
Snent salaries on the basis Of duties,
Ind says: THE salary classification
Of the civil service adopted In 1853.
which still exists except in the postal
branches. Is long out of date and
bears little relation to present condi-
lions of employment, costs of living.
Ind prevailing rates In private bust
ness. Titles Of positions often convey
no indications of duties and vary
widely throughout the service for
similar work, as do the rates Of pay.
The importance of standardiZing pay
On the basis of duties may be seen
from the fact that the annual Gov
ernment expenditures have amounted
10 over $4,000. 900, 900. and the pay
foll of the executive civil service to
t67S.217,79s, Of which more than
Washington.
The commission expresses the view
THAT q new system of classification
based on duties sis necessary to en-
able the commission to tap the prop
er sources OF labor supply; to i'm
prove examinations and tests so as
to measure more accurately the po-
tential ability Of applicants for the
performance of the specific character
Of work involved; ard to enable the
commission to follow up the results
Of its examinations to determine their
value in terms Of actual performance
of appointees on the Job
New Policy Needed.
The commission believes that the
Government should adopt an employ
mont system which should serve as a
model for private business, and in
this connection says. There In a
marked increase in public interest in
far-reaching measures to effect
rreater economy and efficiency in the
Federal service. Budgetary reform
and departmental reorganization are
two phases Of this interest. A third
and by no means the least important
Is the problem of insuring an eff
cient and stable personnel.
"If the public is to become a model
employer IT must obviously establish
an effective employment system.
The Federal Government, being the
largest employer, has an especial
opportunity for dealing in an ad-
vanced way with the employment
problem. Its working force ranges
from mere unskilled laborers to
administrators clothed with large
technical experts of the highest pro-
fessional training.
est Ia of vital importance to the
successful management Of the Fed.
eral Government that expert treat
poAnt should be given to paying en-
vioyes Justly, promoting them upon
merit, and establishing career COM
parable with outside industry. Re-
classification problems should not be
left to separate agencies or to volun.
nary attention by a multitude Of
executives. In the Industrial and
commercial world the efficient utili-
xation Of the operating and managing
forces il regarded as vital, and per-
sonnel management has a place Of
commanding Importance"
Appointment of Women.
According to the report of the COM
mission, women are being appointed to
Government positions In increasing
numbers. THE progress of women"
the report states, 'is illustrated in the
examinations and appointments dur
ing the thirty-eight years the merit
system has been in operation. During
that period 2.123,346 persons have been
examined and 544,S57 appointed. of
whom 1855 were women"