The Washington times., 1924-03-18
REVISION
BOARD
House Civil Service Commit
tee Votes FavorabIy on
CehIbach Bill.

The first step toward abolition
of the Personnel Classification
Board was taken today when the
House Civil Service Committee
voted to favorably report to the
House the Lehlbach bill.
Under the terms of the measure
the duties and powers of the Per-
sonnet Classification Board will
be turned over to the Civil Service
Commission.
Early Action Asked.
The committee decision was made
during a long executive session
which terminated early this after
noon. The greater portion Of the
session was devoted to the framing
Of a report to accompany the meas.
ure.
Congressman Frederick r. Lehl.
bach. Of New Jersey, chairman Of
the committee. and author Of the
bill will endeavor to secure early ac.
ton on the measure on the floor
Of the House. He is confident that
the House will pass the bill by a
large majority. Supporters Of the
bill are confident that the measure
will also be passed by the Senate,
despite the bitter opposition of
several prominent Senators.
The Lehlbach bill was the subject
Of prolonged hearings before the
House Civil Service Committee.
Testimony Of startling character
was presented at the committee
hearings.
1t was shown that strong pressure
was brought to bear upon the board
| to set aside the provisions Of the
| classification act in favor Of the
schedule Of the Bureau Of the Bud
Get. Evidence was also submitted
classified with but little considera-
ton "aa II they had been so many
tin soldiers"
HaS employees support.
Members Of the classification
hoard. including the chairman, told
the Civil Service Committee that
! they would not oppose the measure
to kill the board. The bill has
the support Of Government EN-
uloves in all departments and
bureaus.
The committee received "a De
tition signed by II 900 Government
f, workers urging adoption Of the
| measure. Less than a score N
Government workers expressed op
position to the bill.
Makes Exhaustive History.
The report goes into an extaus
tive history OF the administration Of
tho classification act and states that
the Personal Classification Board
was created 70 set up classes. de.
fine them and furnish appropriate
titles upon which salaries are sup
posed to be based.
"1n the face Of these provisions
OF the law" the report states. 1.-The
Personnel Classification Board did
not subdivide the grade into classes
and furnished no titles and defini-
tons. nuhlshed no such statements
as II required by the act for the
guidance Of department heads. In
short 1t made no classification at
oil. Instead It directed the denart.
ment heads to allocate all positions
to series Of seventeen SALARY
ranges. declared by the Bureau of
Efficiency.
1.-THE salary ranges were called
grades. but contained no definitions
whatever. Under each grade a few
lyrical jobs were given as examples
and all other positions were to be
allocated by analogy. For this
astounding performance the board
makes the following excuses: ~ II
wanted to save time: (2) that CLASH
fication was not intended as n basis
for salary adjustment: (3) it's pur
pose solely to facilitate preparing Of
examinations for futuSe interes'
into the service and for statistical
purposes"