Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11
CIVIL SERVICE LAW
CHANGES URGED
Removal of Inequalities in Re-
tirement Regulations Among
Boards Proposals.

Elimination of inequalities i'm the
retirement law and application of the
civil service competitive examination
system TO all District Government
employees are among salient recon-
mendationS in the forty-fourth annual
report of the United States Civil Serv-
ice Commission, made public last
night
Other recommendations are that
>.,.a SeT.ICc examinations be required
Tor all postmasters, collectors of Gus
TINS collectors Of internal revenue
and other high administrative posi-
Tons which are mon policy determln-
=" and that the positions of deputy
,liecrcr of internal revenue and
equity marshal be restored to the
classified service.
The report shows there were 559, l3S
employees in the entire executive civil
service June 80. as against 560,705 "a
the end of the previous fiscal year
q net reduction in personnel of 1867.
World War veterans are receiving
Substantial benefits" as a result of
the administration of the veterans
preference law, the commission states.
The rapid advance of women in Fed
eral employment also is described.
Retirement Act Discussed.
In discussing retirement, the COM
mission said:
THE retirement act as amended
July 5, 1926. increased the maximum
annuity from $500 to $1,000 and the
average annuity has been increased
from $544.64 to $721.39.
"An employe at $4,000 per aThum
paws into the retirement fund twice
as much as one at $1,000 and gets no
larger annuity.
An employee retiring after 40 years
of service pays % per cent more into
the fund than one retiring after 80
years. the salaries being equal, and
gets no larger annuity.
IAN emp'oye who enters the SerV-
ice at the age of 20 receives no
greater annuity on retirement at 40
than one who entered it at 40, al
though the Government compels him
to serve 20 years longer to obtain it.
The fact that all employees or
their representatives. will draw out
all or more than they contributed
does not justify these discrimina-
tions against employees with higher
pay or longer service. Varying
charges should not be imposed for
the same benefits"
Cites Preference Rules.
The various preferences provided
for in the civil service rules, promul-
gated to give effect to the veteran
preference law, are described in the
report. One of these preferences, 1t
is explained, is points added to
the earned ratings of veterans, ex-
cent that, in the cases of those dis
abled, 10 points are added.
"Of 3S,777 appointments lin the
fiscal YEAR,, 9,947, or $3.50 per cent,
were of preference eligibles, whereas
only 1859 per cent of all the appl-
cants were in the preferred class.
The number of preference eligibles
appointed is 20.67 per cent of all
preference applicants, whereas the
number of non preference appolntees
is only 14.6 per cent OF the Wnoie
number of non preference apph-
cants."
The commission finds cause for
r7.atifcation in the fact that during
the year there were 345 instances OF
nromotion to postmasterships which
are filed through nomination by the
President and confirmation by the
Senate. In it's discussion of postmas-
ter appointments the commission SAID:
Postal Employees Listed.
con June 80, 1927. there were
30S,74O postal employees, of whom
There are 1854 presidential postmas-
ters outside the classified service.
Most of the Presidents and many
Postmasters General for the past two
decades have recommended legisla-
ton that these presidential positions
be classified, given a tenure of good
behavior instead of being subject to
tern of four years and opened as
career for subordinate employees.
There can be no doubt that the elimi-
nation of politics from the appoint
nlent of postmasters would promote
the efficiency Of the service.
Under an executive order the COM
mission holds open competitive eXaml
nations for these positions, and the
Postmaster General selects one of the
highest three for appointment, but the
:,alutary restriction of the civil serv-
ice act and rules are not imposed in
selection and tenure, and they are
not given the benefit of annuity re-
tirement unless promoted from the
classified service. ="
Comment on "Sale of Offices"
Recent laws, in the opinion of the
commission, will tend to remedy a sit
uation which has long been source
Of trouble-that is, the sale of public
"