Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-03-15
/. F. R D B| n s D n
DISCUSSES CIVIL
SERVICE PR0BLEM
President of Local Fedora
ton of Federal Employees
Presents Views in An
Interview.


Tho following statements We're
given out in an interview yesterday
by II. f. Robinson, president of the
Albuquerque local of the Federa-
ton of Federal employees, Of which
there are about 150 local MEM
bers:
Government employees in Albu
querque," said Mr.. Robinson, "were
vitality interested when Associated
Press dispatches from Washington
on the Sth of March announced
that under an opinion of the attor-
ney general of the United States to
the secretary of the interior, the
status of fully $4,000 employees of
the government had been so af-
fected that they could not be in
cluded in the retirement and PEN
sion for civil employees made a law
last year.
"The attorney generals opinion,
in substance, holds that only those
employees who came into the sery
ice of the federal government as
the result OF q competitive exami-
nation were within the meaning of
the term, classified civil service
as used in the retirement act This
removes from the benefit of the
act all persons who were covered
into the service by leg 'slative en-
actment, or who, by executive
action, are holding positions under
the government and were regard
ed as in the competitive classified
service, but who did not enter suck
service by competitive examina-
ton
Figures compiled by the civil
service commission indHate that
there are approximately $4,000
federal employees heretofore re-
garded as in the classified civil
service. who, under the opinion of
the attorney general, would no
longer have classified status. The
civil service commission also esti
mated that 80 per cent, or about
$500 of the employees who are
now receiving annuities, would
under this opinion, be held NOT
classified
"Under the opinion of the attor
ney general" continued Mr.. Robin.
son, his definition of the classified
civil service would apply to al
affecting federal employees
such as transfer, promotion, demo |
lion, preferment of charges, and /
and have the effect OF
the protection OF the
civil service from the approximate I
y $4,000 employees now on the rolls
hel TO be classified, but |
who entered the service by other
means than by competitive exam
nation.
I'm order to remedy without de-
ay the situation brought about by
he attorney generals decision, the
iecretary of the interior had the
of the department draft
/ bill constituting the expression
all employees in the classified civil
ervice of the United States so as
to include all persons who have
'een heretofore, or may hereafter :
'e given competitive status in
he classified civil service, with or
Without competitive examination, ;
" legislative Enactment, or under
he civil service rules promulgated '
" the president, or by executive
. NNA . Wv NAAileo CtlD VI SilPlOytS | 4
With their positions into the COM
'etitive classified civil service, or
the appointment of in
ividuals to positions within such
ervice.'
The civil service commission
lso prepared additional legislation
n the shape of a general provision
xtending the above construction
t the term classified civil service
. every existing statute.
THESE drafts were submitted to
he chairman of the senate and
ouse committees respectively and
ills prepared and introduced in
9th house and senate on the 9th.
"In view of the fact that the
urpose OF the proposed legisla-
on is to cure a technical defect,
'hich, If permitted to continue,
'ould to large extent nullify the
xisting retirement law. there is
o reason to expect anything but a
peedy enactment into law Of these
rovisions.
I'm the meantime" concluded
Ir. Robinson, "the secretary Of
10 interior has directed that no
action be taken on any
pplication for retirement pending
lie enactment of the remedial leg
lation. Payments of annuities to
,tired employees will not be dis
1ntinl ed, the secretary holding
lat until the comptroller refuses O
, authorize such payments the (
terror department will not dis i
'ntinue the payment of the an /
lities. 1t is confidently expected
lat the whole matter will be ad- v
lste.s before the next monthly /
ayments have to be made" Il
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O'DOWD WINS DECISION, h