The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-02-25
BY
LEHLBACH
IN HOUSE
PROBE
Declares Commission Has
Not Been 40 Per Cent
Correct"

Admission that the Personnel
Classification Board does not COM
ply strictly with the terms Of the
reclassification act was made to
day by F. ]. Bailey, assistant d.
rector Of the Budget Bureau and
chairman Of the board, at the
opening hearing of the House
Committee on Reform in the Civil
Service on the Lehlbach bill to
abolish the board.
Bailey was very closely ques-
toned by Frederick R. Lehlbach,
chairman of the committee, on the
view that the board took regard
ing the meaning of the classified
ton act.
Nervous As He Is GrilIed.
The committee room was crowd
ed with representatives off 10000
Federal employees whose destinities
have been directed by the board.
Bailey was plainly nervous and
fingered a rubber band with trem-
bling hands as he was questioned by
Congressman Lehlbach.
He admitted that he was not ia
miliar with the history Of the re.
classification work prior to the
time he became member Of the
board, nor was he familiar with the
work of the Joint Reconsideration
Committee.
He declared that he believed the
mission of the board was primarily
to readjust the salary schedules in
conformity to the Reconsideration
act and stated that ''it is a good
thing even if the act is man
handled"
Exactly His View.
do you think the primary pur
pose Of the board Is to classify the
jobs Of Federal employees regardless
OF the departments in which the,
are employed, and to apply un;
formly the salary ranges provide
there by the act for the variol
classes OF work performed by RI
employes?" Lehlbach inquired.
That is exactly my view of Il
classification act" Bailey replied.
Has anything even approxim;
ing that been done by the board
the District Of Columbian"
That involves the necessity
considering other portions of II
act" Bailey replied, contiruin
with a statement along anoth
angle.
Congressman Lehlbach QUESTION:
him as to why there had not bee
time from spring to August / O.
last year, as required by law. t..
prepare class specifications and al.
locations, "in view of the fact that
the joint Redistribution commits.
sion had already classified all of
the positions temporarily"
Bailey replied that II don't think
much OF the Redistribution com.
mission"
Not Accurate, He Says.
He declared that in two years the
commission had not been able to
make classifications that were "even
20 per cent accurate"
Congressman Lehlbach INQUIRED
whether the work of the board was
being conducted on the basis of the
tield classification prepared by the
reclassification commission at the
time Bailey joined the board. The
witness replied that 1t was.
There was nothing in the act
which required that classification
was to be based on these field
figures was there?" Lehlbach re.
Piled.
mo"
How long was it before the board
adopted change of policy ON this
Bailey indicated that there had
peen a lapse OF several months be.
fore the change was made.
Refers to Charges.
Lehlbach took note of charges
that members Of the Bureau Of the
Budget and certain Senators have
influenced the action of the board
in abandoning the terms of the
classification law by asking the fol.
lowing question:
did you ever have the advice ~
any other Government officials or
members Of Congress in DECIDING
upon the terms of Reconsideration ~
NO member Of Congress ever az.
fected my views with respect to
classification" Bailey replied.
Brown at White House.
While the hearing was in progress
Herbert Brown, chief, United State
Bureau Of Efficiency, was sum.
moned to the White House for
conference. =, =
At the conclusion Of the confer.
enc, Mr.. Brown was reticent IN
newspaper men who questioned
him, and explained that he went
over the reclassification matter In
general with the President.
IL In known that Pres'dea, COoi.
Continued on Pag. 81