Evening star., 1923-12-11
MAY:AAUNCH PROBE
| OF CLASSIFICATION
LehIbach Aroused by Report.
ed Law Evasion in New
Federal Ratings.

Representative Frederick r. Lehl-
bach of New Jersey. chairman OF the
House committee on reform in the
civil service, is going to call for a
report on the work Of the Personnel
Classification Board. having had pro-
tests brought to his office that the
reclassification OF federal employees
has not been according to law.
If he finds, on study of the report,
that the reclassiflcation act, in the
framing of which he took a leading
part, Is not being properly carried
out he will call upon Congress to
have the Personnel Classification
Board investigated.
Change In Schedules.
The use OF the bureau of efficiency's
schedule cannot be objected to as
long as the grades exactly corr espond
to those set down In the act. he said,
but when they differ It constitutes a
usurpinS OF power not granted the
board.
Proposal that a central unified or
ganizatton should be set UP to repre-
sent all committees protesting
against the arbitrary ALLEGATIONS by
IS made by Loren H. Wtttner, chair
man Of the committee representing
auditing clerks in the general ac-
counting Office.
by this means alone he say $.
will the government employees be
able TO properly acquaipt Congress
with the gross injustfces of the tenta-
tive allocaticns OF the hoard.
Wants Investigation.
Chairman 'wittuer believes that
Congress should make an investiga-
tion of the methods OF the personnel
classification board. and of the bu-
reau of efficiency's influence over the
personnel classification board, Con-
gress should know how the Civil
Service Commission has been backed
off the map by the influence of Her
bert c. Brown, chief of the bureau OF
efficiency. :.
'sThe establishment of the civil
service was the first great advance
for the merit system. For years II
was the only agency through which
the clerks could expect 10 get any
degree OF justice for meritorious
another progressive step looking
toward the continuance of the meri,
system and now the bureau OF eff
ficiency's control of the personnel
classification board tends to destroy
all the benefits which Congress has
granted since the ablishmeut OF
ctvil service reforms. The bureau OF
eflciency fosters the spolls system
BY continually playing to the po-
lftical gallery, whether or not it be
democratic or republican.
"Civil service vas initiaily planned
that a. young person could go into the
government service and by efficient
work attain to a career. As the prop
osition now stands unless pull Is used
very little chance for that attainment
obtains. .-.t..,-
"Under the present system of cIassi.
hcation the merit system is beins
Ell in
and the Incentive to productive work
ia removed when as many as two
thirds OF the employees. are allocated
TO grades not contemplated by the
sa~.
Alleges Fayorttism.
"Tep-heavy organizations in the
government offices are Well taken
care of by the personnel classification
board. In such top heavy. Offices many
political appointees receive an infiat-
appointees are buheted about like so
many pawus, Classification should
classify empioyes go political ap-
pointees shah not receive more than
should have eaual compensation for
equal work. In a group Of Intelligent
employees such manifest favoritism is
bound to work detrine1taily and stir
up dissa tisfaction and destroy morale:
1.-THE tentative salaries with a full
description OF the positions in the
language OF the board should be pub
ltshed for the purpose of comparison
ot ALLEGATIONS In the departments OF
the government. and Congress would
then see the manner in which the per-
scnneI classification board has been
influenced, and how the law has been
evaded.
us the personal classification board
70 be allowed to make class spectf
cations with slight changes In word
ing which will permit the allocatin
Of employees performing like work In
different grades? Is the bureau OF
efficiency to be allowed under a snleke
screen OF so-cailed, efficiency and a
barrage ef false economy TO control
the personnel classification board
and juggle employees so that insignifi-
cant increases will have the appear
ance of just ALLEGATIONS?
The personal classification board
has gone on record with the state
ment that: The personnel classifi-
cation has underway a thorough re-
view of ALLEGATIONS heretofore made.
In tho course of this review the du-
Ties and Responsibilities of each group
of employees will be carefully studied