Evening star., 1927-11-24
HIGHER Retirement
PAY IS SUGGESTED
Director of U. S. Coast and
Geodetic Survey Asks In
crease for Civil Personnel.

Increased retirement pay for the
civil personnel is urged by Col F.
Lester Jones, director OF the United
States Coast and Geodetic Survey. in
his annual report made public today
He also emphasizes the inequity IN
the amount of retired pay allowed
men who have demonstrated talent
and ability above the ordinary" as
compared with that OF others VIII"
have done routine work and contrib
uted i'm smaller amount to the retire
ment fund.
This is among the important bureau
needs cited by Col. Jones, Others are
That lin the interest of highest eff
cheney and largest returns for the
expenditures involved. appropriations
he increased so that rewards may be
given in accordance with the etfici
ency ratings attained by the en-
ployes of this bureau" and that funds
are needed To maintain the authorized
commissioned force - the bureau
should have in addition to 141 officers
10 more properly to meet it's needs.
He also points out an urgent need for
q new chart division.
Many Demands Made.
Tn the past year. which is the hu-
reau's 11lth of active existence, the
demands upon it have far exceeded
any prior year in its history, Col.
Jones says.
1.-The great question that presents
itself is how these normal increases
in the demands are TO he met without
An increase in personnel which now
does not adequately meet the situa-
ton that has come TO stay.
1.-The Coast Survey is charged with
making charts, from the first surveys
to the completed products. for the en-
tire coasts of the United States and
possessions. This is large task IN
itself, but to modernize by keeping
nearly 700 charts up to high stand
ard Of efficiency. combined with the
increased dema nd for special informa-
ton, requires more personnel than TO
years ago or even years ago. With
out this, the public is bound to suffer.
''On the Atlantic Coast we are
backward, owing to the fact that we
have not the up-to-date ships to meet
the demand as it is being met on
the Pacific Coast.
"The failure of Congress to author
ize a new ship for the East Coast is
unfortunate. The need Of this vessel
is urgent. and it had the approval
of the Budget and committees of Con
gress at it's last session, but failed
to become a law. 1t is hoped that
this estimate may be carried in an
early deficiency bill.
Vital Needs.
Instruments are the bureau 9
most vital needs" Col. Jones empha-
sizes. He says "the making of mod
ern charts should be expedited" He
points out that in each of his annual
reports for the last four years he has
stressed the urgent need of the bu-
reau for new surveying vessels to
replace those worn out in service.
He asks for increases in the field ap-
preparations to provide for personnel
at the observatories which are in
adequately manned He calls atten-
tion that by direction Of Congress the
work of the bureau has been con-
siderabiy increased by making cur
rent and tide surveys of the impor-
tant harbors of the country. which
will decrease insurance rates on
shipping, but there has been no in
crease in the personnel to reduce the
dat from these surveys and issue the
results. He stresses the urgent need
for a chart DIVISION" and says that
an effort to meet this need will be
met with an appropriation or SI0,uoV
allowed last year by Congress for the
current year.
Personnel and Funds.
In regard to the classification OF
civil personnel, the retirement of the
civil personnel and the funds needed
for maintaining the authorized COM
missoned force. Col. Joyce reports as
follows:
1.-THE classification act of 1923 has
undoubtedly gone far toward remedy
ing faulty and serious conditions that
existed before it's enactment. 1t has
replaced the rigidity of the statutory.
pay positions in which the incumbent
received the same pay, once he was
appointed to the position, whether the
quality Of the service rendered was ex-
cellent, average or of but passing
quality, has brought into effect sys-
tenn in which fiexibility permits more
prompt reward for efficient service and
an adjustment of pay commensurate
with the service rendered.
This has thrown into the service a
more wholesome spirit and has speeded
up accomplishments in all activities.
Zach employe now recognizes that to
hold his present pay scale or to attain
q higher one he must render efficient
service"