Evening star., 1924-08-10
CLASSIC Y|NG BOARD
RUSHING ITS WORK
BusiIy Engaged Today Scan-
ming Printed Proofs to Has
ten Class Specifications.

This Sunday is no day of rest for
the Personnel classification Board. as
it pores over seemingly endless pages
of proof in order that the Govern
ment department heads may get from
the printer as soon as possible the
new class specifications, just issued
The proof sheets on the book
which is being published by the
board containing the class speciRca-
tions, began arriving from the Gov
ernment Printing Office yesterday.
The board worked all day yesterday
and until late last evening.
Plans were made for working all
day today in order that the last cor
rected proofs might go back to the
Printing Office and the book come
out early next week.
Chairman BaiIey's Prediction.
If all goes well, il was predicted by
Chairman Bailey of the Personnel
Classification Board, the volume may
be in the hands of the departments
by Wednesday of this week.
Department and bureau heads are
eager to get the class specifications,
as under the law they must make
their estimates for the coming year
on personnel costs. based on the class
specifications. Departments must
have their final estimates in the
hands of the Bureau of the Budget by
September Is. The system will be
entirely new. and those responsible
for their estimates are anxious to get
the specifications soon as they can
in order to give them careful study,
before application.
Moffett Flies Objections.
Guy Moffett, the Civil Service Com
mission member of the PerSonne!
classification Board. continues his po-
Sition of opposing the class speclnca-
tions issued by the board, having
voted against their adoption. He is
understood TO be preparing an official
statement outlining his views in vot-
ing agar st adoption of the specihca-
tonS, which are now about to be
placed in effect. 1t will be filed as
part of the boards official report.
When class specifications are out
of the way it is understood the beard
will turn its attention to establish
ment of efficiency rating which
may be used by the department and
establishment heads in grading the
efficiency of all employees under the
classification law.
With the coming of Congress in
December. it is expected the drive
for abolishment Of the classification
board will be renewed in earnest by
those interests which have been seek
ing to Kill the present board and
turn over its duties to the Civil Serv-
ice Commission.
Employees Supporting Measure.
The bill which has passed the
House and is now on the calendar of
the Senate will have the ardent back
ing of the National Federation of
Federal Employees and other smaller
groups of organized Government
workers. This bill, drawn by Chair
man Lehlbach of the House commit
tee on the civil service. which held
lengthy hearings on it. provides for
adjustment of the board, as it is
now constituted with one member
each from the Bureau of the Budget.
Bureau of Efficiency, and the transfer
Of the functions Of the board to the
Civil Service Commission.
Although there has been a lull in
the overt opposition to the claSsifica-
tion board within the past week. it
was understood from several quar-
ters yesterday that the organizations
which already have declared war
have been busy preparing their cases,
and may be ready to launch another
offensive even before the opening of
Congress.
Opposite View Expressed.
There are those, on the other hand,
who contend that the theory of re-
classification as expressed in the
present law is entirely correct, and
lIldl lIlt government eHDlOytS are
passing through the stage of agita-
tion and opposition. which usually
besets the Inauguration of any new
and somewhat revolutionary move
ment.
With the passing of the years, it is
predicted by those persons who are
inclined to think they hold the more
philosophical view of the situation,
classification as it is now constituted,
in principle. will carry on" Perhaps
there will be many changes of alloca-
tiOn. There may be an entire change
of the administrative function. with |
transfer to the Civil Service Commits |
sion. There even might he a draS- |
tic change in the nature of class |
specifications But it is these same
persons who predict that on the basis |
which has been established now, how |
ever much it may be objected to, will |
be built the future classification |
structure, which will stand.
Position DepIored ny Opponents.
Opponents stick to one principle |
however, which they say should be |
observed far more than it has been |
in this reclassification just put into |
effect. Each Individual employe, the |
opposition asserts, should be given |
full opportunity to state in his own |
words what his work is, and where |
he thinks he stands in the general |
scheme of government, as compared |
with other workers. These persons |
protest there has been entirely too |
much supervision by the heads of !
epartmentS-in fact, dictation--aS |
TO what the salaries of employees
should be, which in many cases. it is |
charged, has resulted in rank favor |
itism-not to be blamed so much upon |
the classification boards ALLEGATION |
as upon the system which allows too |
much authority to the admin istrative |
heads with their personal likes and !
diSlikeS.
Oysters cannot live in water con-