Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-11-17
EXPLAINS HIS FIGHT,
ON CLASSIFICATION
Guy Moffett Says He Has
Unanimous Backing of Civil
Service Commission.

Supported bv the unanimous in.
dorsement OF the Civil Service Com
mission, Guy Moffett, representative
of the Civil Service Commission on
tho personnel classification board,
who voted as minority or ono
against the letter transmitted by
majority Of two members OF the
board to the administrative officers
with regard to classification OF some
125,0o0 field employees of the federal
government. today gave The Star a
formal statement setting forth the
reason for his minority vote and his
opposition to the system employed.
He expresses his opinion that the
action of the personnel classinca-
ton board is not In conformity with
the Redistribution act. Mr.. Moffetts
statement follows:
Mr.. Monetrs Statement.
1T shall not undertake at this time
TO discuss any action of the board
not already a matter of public knowl-
edge. The action of the board last
spring IS to the service In the Dis
trict of Columbia is known. l OPP
posed such action taken at that time.
The action Of the board taken short
time afterward as to the field service
also is known. and advocated 1t be-
cause 1t followed the plan OF clas
sificatton which 1 believe is contem-
plated by the law. AS to the recent
action OF the board as indicated by
its circular letter No. IL, reversing
the program OF the board as to the
field services. voted against It.
My negative votes on these two
actions, one last spring and ono re-
Gently. were negative because, in my
of the board is not IN conformity
with the act of classification under
which we are operating. and will not
result in achieving the ends clearly
sought and contemplated by such leg
isiation. This question of classifica-
ton OF positions in the federal serv-
ice was given long consideration by
Congress. resulting finally in the claS-
sifcation act.
The function of the board is to
fairly to administer the law. I am
confident the great majority of per-
sons who have given the subject suf-
tcient study 10 speak with authority
or it are agreed that the only meth
Cd of making classification OF po-
sitions on the basis OF duties and
qualifications is to bring together all
positions involving substantially the
lame duties ana QUALIFICATIONS ana
consider them together In determin-
Ing the appropriate range of pay. and
To describe them and designate them
30 they may be identified by all con-
cerned. This is the plan followed in
some thirty states and municipalities
and in many of the larger industrial
concerns of the more progressive type.
Believes 1t Congress- Plan.
''lt Is this plan which confidently
believe Congress- provided for in the
classification act. 1t is this plan
which has been followed by the field
division under the boards original
action, and despite handiceps, the
work rapidly was being brought TO
completion. This plan involved the
development of standard definitions
and titles of the different kinds and
groups of positions as specifically
provided for by the classification act.
and involved also a study of those
factors and conditions which might
justify suitable rates of pay for like
work In different sections of the
country.
"As the commissions representa-
tive on the board I opposed the
method adopted for the District Of
Columbia last spring. approved the
plan originality adopted for the field,
and l opposed any abandonment of
the work under that plan such as is in
Gicated by circular No. Is.
Il am authorized to say further
that my actions on these matters
have had the unanimous Endorsement
OF the Civil Service Commission"