The Washington times., 1922-03-30
Civil Sel.uice Gets d
Hard Bump
By BILL PRICE.

House Appropriations Committee It has been q lond
time since civil service has had such lambastng FROM
such high official source
Mr. Daugherty made the flat-footed statement that
it were not for the civil service (the DEPART
ment OF Justce could get along with less than two
thirds OF the number of employees under civil servic
and probably get twice as much work out Of them.
de charged that civil service employees get to work.
as late as possible and beat the clock to quitting tm
IN the afternoon, adding that "civ service is him.
drance to the Government" x
The civil service system is not perfect but it cou
be perfected by Congress if that body took friendly
attitude to it and earnestly tried to make it an nst
tuition for greater business efficiency The trouble Il
that few Congressman for it and would like to see
return to the spoils system-to the victor belongs
the spoils" Many a personal political machine
would be immensely strengthened if Congressmen
had alotments of Government jobs at their command
and were able to turn out whoever they pleased and
put IN whoever they pleased The clerkshp personnel
in the Government departments would shift almost
every time a new Congress were elected certainly
every time there was change of political parties ipy
power.
There isn't the remotest possibility that Govern
ment service will ever again be subjected to the corS
rupton, immortality and chaos of pre-civil service
days. Even as it is, political influence is brought
into play In the promotion and demoton of employes
Ihere could well be change in the methods by
which civil service appontees into the service
Fortunately, no political influence is permitted iI
great weakness of examination and certifcatioI
methods is that too much stress is laid educational
fitness and accomplishments and too little on induS
try, character willingness to work and the energ5
that would be required in private establishment
Brightness in books should not be the sole guide Id
certifying applicants for appointment. The Civil
Service Commission, however has never worked ou
any plan that will put high rating on practical {
common sense, character and industry. The fault Il
not altogether with the Commission. 1t is constantly
restricted, in appropriations by Congress, which :
would rather see the service crippled than to i'm
prove. :
The outstanding weakness of civil service is in i'll
administration in the Government departments, afte
applicants have come in. Real merit seldom has thu
reward it would have in industry or business. Met
and women who stick to their desks for extra worl
and lose little time, have no assurance that in pro
motions they will be recognized. A great deal dd
pends the good will' of the division or sectioj
chiefs. If these play favorites, as they sometme
do, the promotions will 90 to those who have wob
their personal favor. ~
When large numbers of dismissals are to be made
In the last two years, the division chiefs may o
may not be influenced by reasons of merit in recon-
mending the "pink ticket" |"
Briefly, character industry and intelligent initial
tive not rewarded when particular force is to b.
reduced and promotions are to be made Dismissal
and promotions are made by the heads of depart
ments, it is true, but upon recommendations ole
subordinate heads
PULP still counts. 1t may be ''pun" with tht
division chief or it may be political pull but, jus
the same, mertorious work is too often disregarded
This does not apply to all section and other chiefs
by any means. There many hundreds of then
who, if not nterfered with by political recommenda
tions conduct the personnel of their offices alond
lines of the most beneficial results to the Government
the interests of which they constantly have in mind
The political phase of it goes through every admin
istration, regardless of the party in power Thu
nhqSo Of
The executive branches of the Government could,
eradicate these weaknesses if they should cooperate
to that end. The industrious clerk without pullt
depending solely merit would not feel that his od
her efforts were unavailing.
The real loafer in the Government service, though
is not the civil service worker. He is the political
appontee, outside the classified service who gets his
job on pull, keeps it on pull works when he geta
ready and is seldom ready.
Cabinet officers and their immediate assistants