The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-02-26
Bale Y So
ASSERTS
IN Q(J|Z
Declares Bureau Chief Gave
Order, in Defiance Of Act,
Which Was Followed.

Admission that the Bureau of
the Budget influenced change in
the policy Of the Personnel Clas-
sification Board was one of the
startling points in the testimony
of F. j. Bailey, chairman of the
board, before the Civil Service
Committee of the House today.
Bailey, in response to question
by Congressman Frederick R.
Lehlbach, chairman of the COM
mittee, as to what had occurred
between August % and Novem-
Der IL, to cause the change in
the Boards policy, replied:
General Lord, director of the
budget, handed me a program
with respect to the field services
which the board adopted the same
day."
He Obeyed Gen. Lord.
Ibid General Lord tell you where
he got his statement" Congress.
man Lehlbach inquired.
mo"
do you know where he got it?''
"No."
Bailey told the committee that he
accepted craftsmanship of the per-
sonnet classification board only un
der pressure from the Director OF
the Budget. He declared that he
had no previous prejudice as to the
two schools of thought over which
the present controversy is raging
He declared that classification OF
the government employees should
''rest ultimately upon class specifi
cations as provided and intended by
the act.''
1t is the contention Of opponents
Of the personnel classification board
that this intention of the act had
not been followed by the board.
Congressman Lehlbach read por.
tons of the statement of November
IL, which is said to have been sent
to the board by General Lord.
DO you appreciate that this
statement, which was adopted by
your board, is absolutely contrary
to the provisions of the classified,
ton act?" Lehlbach inquired.
There are those who will dis
agree with you," Bailey replied 81
think the board should have author
1ty to set UP salary range with
out reference to provisions of the
act, If this is deemed advisable.
Baily Explains Work.
Bailey explained that the work
the board was carrying on with
respect to Reconsideration Of em.
ployes in the field service was
based on class specifications as
the first STEP" ..,..,,...,..-,...'.4
But l must give you a correct
figure of condition.; he stated. "The
class specifications we turned over
to the department for the use OF
the Budget Bureau were pretty poor
They were by no means complete
There were great blocks Of positions
which had not been completely elias
sified."
Bailey declared that If the method
at procedure had not been changed
the Civil Service Commission schoo
of thought, which Lehlbach claims
is that provided in the act, woult
today be on the defensive.
With respect to the bill now pend
ing before the committee to abolish
the personnel classification boart
and turn over it's functions to tn,
Civil Service Commission, Bailey
stated:
TT does not make so much differ
ence what agency controls classifi
cation as the method of procedur,
employed"
Bailey declared that the Wood
Smoot classification schedule cha!
prevailed and is now prevailing.
He declared there was no way o
telling just how far this schedul
has gone until work is completed OF
July 1. He declared that he woul
oppose this schedule with ever,
means at his command.
1.-THE District of Columbia clas
specifications submitted on July 1
will not be as perfect as they nigh
be-" he told the committee" The,
will be on a basis Of the Civi
Service Commissions school, o
thought, however. This is tn,
method Of procedure which you, al
chairman of this committee, ar
favoring and which is provided ii
the Act" '..''
He declared that the board Il
now working on class specification
and probably will have a repor
a.. A