Evening star., 1923-11-25

On behalf of the American Asso-
citation of Engineers. an organization
OF more than 5000 engineers
throughout the United States, Leon
ard B. Smith, federal manager and
eastern secretary of the association.
made a vigorous protest to the per-
sonnei classification board yesterday
against the boards recent action "In
discarding the work of the field d.
vision and in proceeding with this
work along radically different lines"
The protest sent to Chairman Bal
ley Of the board said that:
'Tt is the belief Of the American
Association Of Engineers that the
method carried out In the work of
your field division in the preparation
OF its tentative schedules OF compen-
ance with the provisions Of the clas-
sification act OF 1923. and hence the
decision of your board to proceed
with this classification OF the field
positions to salary grades is a di-
rect violation Of the act
Inaccuracy Charged.
"The classification OF the District
forces made on the basis of the al
location to compensation schedules
has clearly indicated the inaccuracy
Of such method of classification.
Your board is aware OF the storm OF
protest and the large number OF COM
plants from both individual en-
ployes and departments which has
resulted from this work. On behalf
Of the American Association of En-
gfneers. ] have brought this matter
to your attention previously at vari-
Gus times. and at your request, a bu-
reau chief is sending you a compre-
hensive statement which will furnish
a number of concrete cases of un-
Just and poor classification Of tech
n1s nisar empioyes ,n5iss,ss This statement
volving like work and responsibilities
have been allocated to different
grades.
Believing that the classification
act of 1929 contemplates a rational,
scientific and proper classification OF
the government service, and that the
government employees are entitled to
such classification. your board is re-
quested to reconsider your recent ac-
ton with view to the continuance
OF the classification Of the field serv-
ices on the basis OF the work con-
tanned in the compensation schedules
of September Is, 1929, and the sup
Elemental work Of the field division.
and the revision and completion of
the classification Of the District forces
IN compliance win the classification
act"
Discussing this protest Mr.. Smith
said:
Fears Treasury Raids.
Recent statements have appeared
In the press quoting Herbert D.
Brown. chief Of the bureau of eff
cheney, that he is fearful of raids on
the public Treasury as a result Of the
classification of government forces.
1t would seem apparent from such
statements that the authors do not
comprehend the Significance of clas-
sifcation as contemplated under the
classification act OF 1923.
1t may not be aniss TO suggast
, that Congress. Iatne- than the bu.
reau OF efficiency, is the proper body
to determine what salaries shall be
paid to the government employ es
Congress- has not yet ahrogated this
function.
Section of the classification act
specifically states that classification
should be made on the basis of class
specifications. setting forth the duties
and responsibilities of the positions
involved and the minimum auaiifica-
tions for personnel to fill these posi-
tions. No mention is made of salary
grades or rates of compensation,
which evidently are matters second
airy to the primary one of establish
ing the proper class for all the posi-
tions in the government service. It
should also be noted here that this
paragraph of section 8 of the act pro-
vides that in the preparation of these
class specifications that the board
shall follow as nearly as practicable