Evening star., 1922-06-16
CRITICS ASSAILED'
BY CIVIL SERVICE

Continued from First PageD
ency and what 1t most earnestly en-
deavored to secure. Consider the
facts On March 3, 1917. the Congress
authorized the bureau of efficiency to
make an investigation Of the methods
of transacting the public business by
the Civil Service Commission; on Feb
ruary 4, 1919, the bureau advised the
commission of the authorization OF
Congress and that the war had pre-
vented pronlpter action: the commis-
sion Immediately replied with offer OF
co-operation; following this was
personal request on March 20, 1913.
to the bureau Of representatives.. ask
ing for suggestions from time TO time
for improvement in the commission s
method and procedure; three exceed
ingly minor suggestions were mace.
1919 the commission addressed let
ter to the chief Of the bureau of ef-
ficiency stating that the commission
lump sum appropriation had been re-
duced by Congress from 100000 10
$4,000. and asking for assistance and
suggestions from the bureaus inves-
tigators. with a view to introducing
before July l. 1919. such briefer
methods as would permit the COM
mission to do its allotted work with
Il reduced force.
No Reply Received.
NO reply was ever received to this
letter. but on November 2. 1920, one
year and five months later, the bu-
reau submitted its proposed report,
covering nearly $50 typewriter
pages, to the commission for con-
sideration and comment The COM
mission did comment in letter to
the bureau under date of November
Is. 1920, and year and half later
the bureau transmits to Congress
final report.
This revised report covering 1lS
typewriter pages. is materially OH :,
ferent from the original report. and
although including new matter, was
not first presented to the commission
for comment. 1t is believed that hao
this been done u number OF general
statements and inaccuracies would
have been brought to the bureau S
attention (and. no doubt. changed by
the bureau), which the commission. in
;,,stice to itself as a public inStitu-
ton, has now the unpleasant duty
to point out.
(O.ODef0Icu w I'm
The commission declares that 1t
actively and earnestly co-operated IN
every way with the bureau of eff
cheney. 1t adds that it is disappoint-
ing to note in the report of the
bureau so many apparently categor-
ical statement in general language
which are either not explained az all
or are followed by illustrations and
examples which point to the opposite
conclusion from the general state
ment.
sion. the commission does not know
what this statement, appearing on
page 3 of the report, means. First
the Civil Service Commission has as
sumed for many years, ana sun as
sumes. a negative attitude towaro
it's tasks and its problems because
the explanations later given in the
report apparently on this statement
point to the fact that the commission
does not assume n negative attitude
toward it's tasks and its problems.
Resent. Charge Of Old Methods.
The commission refers to state.
ment in the bureaus report that the
commission has not kept pace with
the developments in employment sci.
ence, and that it's practices are not as
modern as those of the advanced com.
mercial concerns, clingfng in large
part to old and familiar methods"
In reply to this statement the com.
mission says: THE commissions an.
nual reports show very clearly that
;,, re
of those pursued by commercial con.
Germs, and 1t is frequently called upon
by such concerns for suggestions"
The commission insists that every
thing possible is being done to keep
its work up to date and efficient. In
great detail 1t replies to many of the
Statements made in the report of the
bureau, dealing with the history OF
civil service reform in the federal
government, the organization of the
civil Service Commission, the recruit
ing of candidates, examination meth
ods. technical tests, clerical tests
manual tests and certincations.
Talks in Generalfties.
"The whole theory of the bureau
of efficiency" says the commission. in
its report, lis the fact that it talks ir
generalities, and groups the govern
ment service as whole, instead OF
breaking down its comment in the indi'
yidual positions and cases. Wher
speaking of private enterprises, how.
ever, il is most careful to talk of ar
individual business.
Referring to comment by the bu.
reau ON the commissions method OF
selecting candidates for presidentia
postmasterships. the commission says
"The commission does not see
wherein 1t is ridiculous when filling
the position of postmaster to consider
respectively the qualifications. nt
matter how diverse, of all the diff
ferent candidates, and after decidint
which are the best of the candidate.
II does not seem ridiculous to assign
them percentage rating on a basi.
of the relative value of their careeri
when squared against the known re
auirements of the postmastership t.
be filled"
continually giving consideration t.
job analyses.