Evening star., 1923-12-09

if it Is to be a, real inducement 10 eHl-
ployes 10 remain in the service and
later to accept retirement. The pres
ent scale of annuities. under which
the average retirement allowance Is
less than $500. although 1t has been
partially successful. does not suffl-
ciently relieve the service Of the
superannuated, since appointing oih-
GERS are reluctant to compel retire
ment of those no longer able to
render adequate service, but who
have done so for many years.
Injustiees OF System.
There are injustices in the present
system. For instance. an employe
entering the service at the age of
forty may retire with a maximum al
lowance at seventy, whereas an em-
ploye appointed at eighteen must
serve fifty-two years before he
reaches the retirement age OF seventy.
He must, therefore, serve twenty-five o
years longer. and IL salary conditions
are the same, pay into the retire
ment fund 20 per cent more than the
employe entering at the age of forty.
Again. the higher-salaried en-
ploye, from whose salary much
larger sum is reserved. before reach
ing retirement age may find it more
advantageous to resign and With
draw his contribution, as by invest
ing the money refunded to him he
may obtain a larger annuity from an
insurance that would be allowed by
the government. The lower-paid
cmploye receives a very substantial
advantage over the higher-paid en-
ploye."
Increase in Allowance.
The retirement allowance for dis
ability. as well as that for age.
should be increased. according to the
report.
TT seems but just that the an
nuity which an employe receives
should be somewhat in proportion TO
this principle is not to be recognized
and the annuity is limited to a max
imum. it Is only just that the higher
paid employees should be subject to
compensation. For example. IL $1,000
is the maximum annuity and a sal
ary of only 1890 Is necessary to OBJ
tain IL, then deductions should be
made from salary only up to $1,000"
mends the classification under civil
service OF postmasters at first, sec
ond and third class offices. and many
other positions now outside the
classified service.
Many Jobs Unclassfied.
The report states: There yet re-
main outside of the classified service
about fifteen thousand positions
filled BY appointment, and about
twelve thousand positions specifically
excluded by law from classinca-
ton. .
classification OF many of the H.
600 positions excluded by law is. in
the opinion of the commission, a step
necessary for the promotion Of eff
cheney in the branches of the service
I'm which these positions exist. Deputy
collectors of internal revenue form
the largest group. Such positions are
looked upon as spoils for the victors
IN political contests"
The report shows that during the
fiscal year 22s.640 persons competed
in examinations, as against 244.281
32s.336 for the year ended June 80,
1921. The number of persons ap-
pointed during the last fiscal year
was 73.054 as against 1858 for the
fiscal year ended June 80, 1922, and
104,225 for the fiscal year ended June
80, 1921.
During the last fiscal year the en-
tire federal executive civil service
was reduced by slightly more than
$4,000 employees. The total number
of persons employed on June 80, 1929,
was 543,531. while the number on
June 80, 1922, was 6S0,S $50. On June
80. 1928, the number employed in the
District of Columbia was 66,290.
while 4s2,241 persons held positions
in the federal civil service in
branches outside the District of Co
lumbia.
The commission discusses at con-
siderable length alleged discrimina-
tion for political reasons In making
selections for appointment, In pro-
motions or changes in assignment in
making reductions In force, and in
removals"
In this connection the commission
said:
THE commission believes that the
civil service rules should be so ad-
ministered as to prevent, as far as
considerations into appoint tInents. and
that this can be done by acting upon
information which is free from the
political bias which must necessarily
exist il the origin Is political.
Field Investigators of the commits
sion have had ample opportunity to
sound the sentiment OF the people In
all parts Of the country, and, with
few exceptions. leading citizens who
opinion that appointment and reten-
tion In the service should be based on
merit and not politics The appoint
ment of any man when a better
.qualified man il available Is displeas.
ing to the community. ana 1t would
seem that though elimination OF poll.
tics from the field in which 1t should
I,A hA hAc ~