Evening star., 1922-05-26
CIVIL SERVICE BODY:
!! ! HELD ANT|QuAIED
Efficiency Chief Tells Presi'
i dent # Has Negative At. .
titude for Duties.

The Civil Service Commission con-
ducts its work fundamentally along
lines laid down nearly forty years
ago, according to report prepared
by Herbert D. Brown, chief Of the
United States bureau Of efficiency, and
transmitted by the President to the
House.
Mr.. Brown In his report stresses that
the first task Of the Civil Service Com
mission should be to secure the best
personnel possible for the government
service instead Of emphasizing the
minimum requirements
THE commissi the report said.
has assumed for many years and still
its tasks and problems.
1T endeavors to keep out of gov
eminent positions incompetent per-
sons. 1t does not make sufficiently
the government for the most comps.
tent available persons"
While. the commission advertises
for help. at does not actively or en-
ergetically seek to place the best, and
only the best, in govsrnment- posi-
tons" the report added. and regard
ed itself primarily as q brake on bad
appointments.
Open to Improvemsat.
1t was stated that the commission
had not been charged with corrup-
tion or with gross incompetence, but
that, like most government estah-
lishments of long standing, its meth
DDS and proceedings were open to
Improvement.
The bureau of efficiency. in its re-
port makes two contentious as foa-
lows:
has assumed for many years, ana
still assumes, negative attitude
toward its task and its problems
1t endeavors to keep out of govern
ment positions incompetent persons.
1t does not make sufficiently rsso.
lutte effort to secure for government
positions the most competent avail
able persons. The commission does.
indeed. advertise extensively Tor ap-
plicants; it does examine them on
their education and experience: and
1t does certify with ausiihcatienso
the candidates who make the highest
marks to the departments and tnde-
pendent establishments for appoint
ment. II none the less remains true
that the commission does not activeiy
and theoretically seek to place the
best. and only the best, in govern
It regards itself primarily as a
brake on bad appointments. That
attitude and outlook is one which II
shares in some degree with the rest
of the government. The civil service
law was originally enacted as bar
rier against the spoils system. as q
check on the appointment OF incom-
petent, dishonest and shiftless per-
sons through political patronage. or
personal favor. 1t comes to this. that
the government in general and the
Civil Service Commission In particular
emphasize only the minimum require-
msnts for government, positions.
Called Old Fashioned.
Second. the Civil Service Commits
sion is somewhat old-fashionsd. Its
work is conducted, Fundamentally.
along the lines laid down nearly
forty years ago. 1t has not kept pace
with developments in employment
science. Its practices are not as
modern as those of the more advanced
commercial concerns. Within recent
years. particularly, a great deal OF
tered on employment problems, par
ticularly on the possibilities Of pre-
dictive tests. The commission clinga
in large part. to old and familiar
methods. Generally speaking, it 10
under the sway of tradition and of
accepted iroutine.
The fret task that should be un-
dertaken by the Civil Service Com
mission. the report states. 10 such
a remodeling Of its methods as will
guarantee that everything possible Is
being done to aid government ofhcers
in securing the best personnel avail.
able. The recommendations urged
by the bureau. of efficiency will, it
is pointed out. be of service In ac-
complishing this end. 1t should espe-
cially be noted. states the report, that
these recommendations, though they
call for a considerable number of
changes in procedure, do not involve
any greater expenditures. On the
contrary, some of the suggested al
terations, particularly in connection
with examinations and tests. will
make possible large and immediate
economies, and will further lead.
ultimately, to the selection of q more
efficient and hence less expensive per-
sonnel for the government service.