The Washington times., 1922-12-10
Commission Declares Salaries
Now Being Paid Not Enough
to Get Right Kind Of Persons
MORALE VASTLY IMPROVED
Believes Annuitles Should Be
Graduated According to Size
Of Compensation Received

and employees in the Government
service, with view of making
salaries more attractive and oppor.
tunities OF promotion more definite,
are urged by the United States Civil
Service Commission. which yester.
day submitted It's annual report to
President Harding.
Salaries now being paid by the
Government to its classified en-
pioyes are not enough to obtain
persons who have adequate qualifi-
cations for the work they are called
upon to undertake, states the report.
It ts stated that many clerical posi-
tions in the departmental service re-
Quire persons Of broad or specialized
education, and men Of this type are
not attracted to the Federal service
because of the low salaries and
meager chance Of promotion.
RIGHT FOR HIGHER PAY.
"The Government employees" !"
Claims the commission, have a
right to reasonable compensation
corresponding to the measure Of
their abilities and service rendered.
and opportunity should be provided
70 rise along established lines Of
promotion"
III the effectiveness Of the classi-
fied service were increased even a
small percentage by establishing a
career comparable to outside busi-
mess and the maintenance OF a
corps OF contented workers, the re-
gulting economy would be measured
by millions Of dollars"
During the year ending June 30.
last. more than $4,000 employees in
the Government service were drop
ped, 1sAxinga q total OF ,69.sS0 Federal
civil employees in the District and
ls0.SS3 outside Of the Capital. In
disclosing the present number OF enl-
ployes IN the service during the
fiscal year, the commission points to
the number on the Government pay.
rolls in 1918, when there were lie
$50 FEDERAL employees In Washing.
ton. and s17.760 in the field. Since
the Armistice there has been q
gradual reduction with the view OF
getting the number of employees In
the Federal service down to that Of
pre-war days. On June 80, 1915, be-
fore the United States entered the
war, there were only 3s.442 Federal
employees in the District, as against
4Ss,057 In the field.
MORALE IMPROVED.
In discussing the effect Of the re-
tirement law, the commission states
that the act has not been in effect
long enough to warrant definite
conclusions regarding It's influence
IN promoting economy or stability,
although It is thought that the
morale Of the personnel has been
improved.
The commission, however, is Of
the opinion that the higher paid
employees should pay decreased con-
trfbutions to the retirement fund. or
receive higher annuities. II Is
recognised as unjust for an official
at $500 to contribute $50 q year
10 the retirement fund and receive
IN annuity Of 372o. which n no
more than the annuity received by
the $1,000 employees who contribute
The con,mission believes that the
annuities should be increased and
graduated according to the size OF
aalarfes received and contributions
10 the retirement fund In order to
stabilize the service, enable retired
employees to live comfortably, pre-
vent retention Of employees past re-
tfromeut age because Of sympathy,
and induce the best talent to enter
ana remain in the service.
Veterans Of the world war re-
heived 1870 Of the e2,4Ss original
app0intments TO the classified serv-
Sos made during the fiscal year, the
yeport states- Approximately 49,
30 claims for preference in appcint-
had been allowed under the acts Of
March and July. 1919. OF these
veterans who entered examinations,
about i2e,sz0 qualified and became
eligible tor appointment. !,
CHANGE m PREFERENCE.
IN discussing the effect Of the
veteran preferencs law upon the
civiI service. the commission urges a
mo1ification Of the acts passed by
ConGress. declaring that the inter
cts Of sound business administra-
ton would best be served by chang
accord With those applying to Presi-
6enfial postmaster examinations.
Under the acts Of Congress, q
vsteran u declared eligible II he at
Snins only 65 per cent in the civil
aervice examinations. and his name
- certified ahead Of all non-vsteran
e1ix1bIes, regardless Of how high
fhSir ratings may be. In the Presi.
6entia1 postmaster examinations five
Doints are added to the earned
r3ting Of each preference candidate.
ana his name II then considered for
oonsidernt In its order on the
basis OF this augmented rating. pro
vided Il n ~ much as 70 per cent.
Durng the year the commission
erauined 306,0O7 persons and Of
this number appointed e2,4sS.