Evening star., 1928-09-10
PERSONNEL BOARD
WORK CRITICIZED
Legion Committee to Seek
Consolidation of Four
u. S. Bureaus.

Criticizing the Bureau of Efficiency
Personnel Classification Board and En-
ployes' Compensation Commission, the
special committee of the American
Legion on veterans preference laws has
decided to work for their abolishment
and the transfer of their functions to
the Civil Service Commission.
The committee. created in an advisory
capacity by President Coolidge four
months ago. has asked a special Legion
committee from the local department 70
submit TO il some concrete suggestions
for improving the status Of war veterans
in the classified service.
The report of the advisory committee
bitterly arraigns the Efficiency Bureau.
It's abolition is recommended on the fol-
lowing grounds:
Because a more conscientious ad-
ministration Of the act will result.
Charge Long Delay.
Because of the utter failure of the
Bureau of Efficiency to take the initial
step to make the act of August %, 1912,
effective until after delay of nine
years two months and one day.
Because the Bureau Of Efficiency is
spending money appropriated to carry
Investigations without authority there
for and with authority for such in
vestigationS specifically vested in the
Bureau of Budget by the act of June 10,
1921.
Because the system of efficiency rat
frgs is so palpably defective that the
shield of protection attempted to be
created by the statute is turned into
sword of destruction.
Because the Bureau of Efficiency by
its delay inefficiency and demonstrated
lack Of sympathy is untitled to perform
the duties required under the act of
august %, 1912, as amended as afore-
said.
Because of the great economy that
will result from this consolidation of
Two bureaus whose legal functions are
solely and strictly of a personnel
character
Favor Consolidation.
Greater efficiency in the handling of
veterans preference cases is seen in
the consolidation of the classification
board and the compensation commits
sion, the report says. In the event
of maladminiStration, the committee be-
lieves, the corrective measures could
be applied more easily to one commits
sion than with several, as at the pre-
sent time
In its report the special local com
mlttee OF the Legion urges strength
ening of the veterans preference law
and its extension to cover workers out
side the District of Columbia It also
hits the general average" clause in
the various appropriation acts.
Corrective legislation probably will be
based on these recommendations and be
submitted to the next Congress by Rep
resentative Fish. Republican of New
York, who is chairman of the Presi-
dents advisory committee.
Committee Personnel.
The Presidents advisory committee
includes. besides Fish, William c. Dem
ing, Civil Service Commissioner: Brig.
Gen. Frank T. Mines, director of the
Veterans Bureau; Col William j. Dono-
van, Assistant Attorney General, and
Col. John Thomas Taylor, legislative
representative of the American Legion.
The committee of local legionnaires
includes, besides Comdr. Wood, Mai.
Paul j. McGahan Maj Julius I. Pey-
ser, Capt. Thomas j. FTailey, Francis r.
Miller, Earl J. Brown, Helen McCarty
and E. A. Costello.