Evening star., 1922-12-09
NEW CIVIL SERVICE /,
RAT|NGSASSA|LED
Reform League Speaker Hits
Proposed Substitute for
Sterling Bill Plan.
RAPs CONGRESS GROUP
Mrs. Edith Roosevelt, Widow of
Ex-President, and Others Elected
to Councils Membership.
RAPs CONGRESS GROUP

The system Of ratings devised by
the bureau Of efficiency as subst1-
tute for the Redistribution of the
civil service as provided for in the
sterling -Lehlbach bill was denounced
by Robert Catherwood at the con
Guiding session Of the forty-second
annual meeting of the National CiyiY
Service Reform League at the Hotel
washington today
The National Civil Service Reform
League is emphatically in favor of
the Sterling-Lehlbach bill. and wants
70 see II enacted into law" declared
Mr. Catherwood. who is a member of
the leagues legislative committee
III Congress. in fair and open judg-
ment. concludes that there is to be
no reclassification. then We will have
lost in fair fight"
Reads SmOot's Letter,
Mr.. Catherwood read to the dele
gates letter, which he said had been
sent December s by Senator Smoot to
members of President Harding's cab
met. in which information was asked
which would assist the Senate appro-
ator Smoot is chairman. in determin-
ing whether the classification system
in process Of installation by the bu-
reau of efficiency could be made 10
serve as permanent basis for sal
ary STANDARDIZATION in the depart
mental service.
Mr.. Catherwood. former presi-
dent of the Cook county, Ill. civil
service commission. characterized the
bureau of efficiency plan as provid-
ing for little more than "a mere
collection of opinions of supervising
officials
why not call up the bureau chiefs
and ask whom they want promoted
and whom they want fired and be done
with it," Mr.. Catherwood said.
Efficiency Bureau Assailed.
1T is time TO say quite frankly"
Mr.. Catherwood continued, that the
bureau of efficiency seems to be used
by very limited group in each house
OF Congress as the snufer-out of ali
kinds of progress in the civil sery-
ice administration. The bureau since
Its creation some years ago as a
separate agency has pursued a course
of snipins. first at the reciassifics
and later at the legislation which
was proposed as result OF thar
commissions work"
The election to membership of Mrs
Edith K. Roosevelt. widow of Thee
dore Roosevelt. who was United
fore he became President. to the,
council of the National Civil Service
Reform League was announced today
Mrs. Roosevelt has been consulted
and has agreed to serve on tho
leagues council.
Other new members elected to the
council Of the league were: Miss Har-
lean James OF this city. president o
the American Civic Association arc
the American Association Of Cnivei-
sity Women: Mrs G. Huntington Wi
liams and Mrs. & W. Corkran, jr
Baltimore; Miss Neva Deardorg an.
James Moffatt. Philadelphia: Charles
G. Dawes. Chicago. former director q:
the budget: A. r. Kimball. Water
bury. Conn. was reelected chairmaI.
Of the council Of the league.
Savings Of 100000, 900 annual,
might be made by abolishing useies-
places i'll the civil service and dis
charging incompetent employees arr
putting into effect other methods, d.
cording to resolutions adopted at tn
Anal session.
The measures suggested also incluG.-
rec1aSSidcation of the civil service
substantially along the lines of the
Sterling -Lehlbach bill. adoption @,
civil service laws in the thirty-eight
states that have none. and introduc-
ton of modern employment methoos
in the public service.
Three billions Of dollars are an
nually expended on the pay rolls OF
our national, state and local govern
ments,' the resolutions stated. ~
large proportion. carefully estimated
at one-Quarter Of this vast sum. car
be saved by the application of thes-
measures.