Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-31
APPOINTEES ACT
UNDER PROHIBITION SERVICE
Failure of Deficiency Appropriation Bill to Pass
Causes Provisional Arrangement to Exist, With
Treasury Department Cooperation.

Service Commission from tho begin
ming.
Granting a difference between the
attitude Of the public mind toward use
OF and traffic in narcotic drugs and
the consumption and sale of alcoholic
beverages, there remained q strong
argument in favor OF the selection of
prohibition enforcement employees on
merit basis in the quiet and efficient
enforcement of the anti.narcotic law.
$500 Offices Involved.
The President, the Civil Service
Commission, the National Civil Service
REFORM League and other persons and
bodies. official and unofficial, repeat
edly recommended in the interests Of
good government the classification un-
der the civil service law of the entire
prohibition personnel
BY an act of Congress approved
March 8, 1927. there was, therefore.
created the Bureau of Prohibition of
the Treasury Department, which
brought all positions in that bureau
under the provisions Of the civil serv-
ice law of 1888. excepting the single
position of Commissioner of Prohibi.
ton, and made $500 offices subject to
competitive examinations by the Civil
oeINlCe commission.
1t is safe to say that no other body
OF men mas been subject to the temp
tations that have beset the prohibit.
ton enforcement organization. The
new personnel, carefully selected
through the competitive examination
system. will meet the same tests of
character. The results as shown by
tho records a few years hence will
AFFORD q basis for an interesting study
by student Of criminology.
approximately 10000 formal appli-
cations from every part of the coun-
try and every walk in life were filed
In response to the Civil Service Com.
missions examination announcements
for recruiting the prohibition person
mel. But as to the failure of passage
OF the deficiency appropriation bill by
the last Congress, the Civil Service
Commission was not provided with
funds for this unusual examination
task. 1t is certain that there will be
delay In the completion of the rating
OF applicants and the certification of
eligibles.
Taking Every Precaution.
The incumbents of the $500 new
ly classified positions are serving un.
der temporary appointments in ac-
CofudHce with the civil Service rules,
II they are competitors for retention,
they are receiving the same tests that
are applied to all other applicants.
They are in open competition with all
who. have applied for the positions
they are occupying.
The temporary appointees will be
permitted to retain their temporary
status until the examinations for their
positions are completed and eligibles
are certified. unless they are removed
by the department for administrative
reasons. Tho work OF the Bureau of
Prohibition can, therefore, go on with
out interruption. Notwithstanding the
delay In the completion Of the exami.
nations and the certification of eligi.
bleS.
The Civil Service Commission real.
ICES its heavy obligation In the reor.
ganization OF prohibition enforcement
work, and II taking every precaution
to eliminate from consideration, 90
far as Is humanity possible, those who
are unworthy of appointment. 1t is
receiving the fun cooperation OF the
Treasury Department.
tcopyrixht.r 1921