Evening star., 1922-12-10
Urgent Ciuil Seruice Needs
Noted IN Commission Report
adequate Reclassification of Positions
and Employees Essential--Other Sug.
gesti0ns and Outline of Years Work.

Adequate reclassiticdtiOn of posi-
tions and employees is urgently needed
i'll the civil service. according to the
annual report of the Civil Service
Commission to the President of the
United states. made public today.
Tn" report is signed by George r.
Wales and Mrs. Helen ii. Gardener.
commissioners
Pointing out that such Il reciassifi-
cation is desirable not alone because
of it's beneficial results to tn. service
as a wholc. but also as an aid in
formulating appropriate examinations,
the report states that rtclaSS.tl"ation
would prove to be in the interest OF
more economical administration. as
we'll as dcsirabl. from the standpoint
of more appropriate and more uni
form salary ranges.
In its report the commiSSio sald
the civil establishment had been re-
duced by more than 36.oeo employees
during the year ending June 30. l922'
that the retirement law fails to be
completely successful. by reason or
! the small annuities allowed under the
law; that II modification of the regu-
lations governing veteran preference
would prove of benefit to the civil
service. and that a strong argument
| in favor of reclassification is found in
the gain in efficiency of the postal
service following advances in salaries
in that branch
Postal Service Gains Efficiency.
The postal service" said the com
mission. has greatly gained in eift-
! cheney by legislation establishing I'M
proved salaries. The excess of expendi-
lures over revenues in 1922 is less by
more than S96,o40.000 than it was in
! 1921. This reduction was made. al
though by far the largest item in eX-
pense is the expenditure for employees.
, which has increased more than $780,
0Oc.000 since 1918.
statutory appropriations for clerks
in the departmental service provides
salaries ranging from S720 to $1,000.
| The average for $500 positions under
! $500 is $1.256, or $l.496 with the
! bonus. The only hope held out for pro-
, motion is the occurrence of a vacancy.
These salaries are not enough to obtain
persons OF adequate qualifications.
Superior service cannot be obtained un-
der such 4 salary scale. Many clerical
positions in the departmental! service re-
quire persons of broad or specialized ed
ucation. Great economy can be effected
my making salaries attractive and the
opportunities Of promotion definite.
Analysis OF Actual Duties.
The analysis made of the actual
duties and responsibilities of each en-
ploye in the departments of Washing
ton by the Redistribution commission
should be continued, in order that the
various positions may be classified and
the compensation adjusted on the prin-
cipie of equal pay for equal work. The
employees have n right to reasonable
compensation corresponding to the
reasur of their abilities and service
rendered, and opportunity should be
provided to rise along established lines
of promotion.
'If the effectiveness of the classified
service were increased even a small per-
centage by establishing a career COM
parable to outside business and the
maintenance of a corps OF contented and
efficient workers. the resulting economy
would be measured by millions of dol
lars
: Needs Of the Future.
In discussing it's needs for the
future, the commission said that ANY
hampering of the commission through
inadequate appropriations will have
an adverse effect upon the efficiency
of the personnel and it's cost to the
government.
improvements in tests should be
constantly sought and a research sec
ton be maintained for the purpose
but this it has been possible to do
only to a limited extent. Not alone
because of it's beneficial results to
the service as a whole, but also as an
aid in formulating appropriate ex-
aminations, an adequate reclassif1ca-