Evening star., 1928-03-16
Efficiency Bureau Chief and
Commissioner Cite Benefits
for Employees.
NEW LAW NOT NEEDED
TO ESTABLISH SYSTEM
City Heads Can Order Change Un-
der Present Law, Com
mittee Is Told.

Strong probability that the Gibson
subcommittee of the House District
committee, supporting. the recommended
tions made by the United States Bu-
reau of Efficiency. will endeayor soon TO
have District government employees
placed under the civil service system
was given today during a hearing on
this subject.
Herbert D. Brown. chief of the Bu-
reau Of Efficiency: George r. Wales. a
member of the Civil Service Connis-
sion, and II. E. Kaplen of New YORK
City. on the legislative council for the
Civil Service Reform League, all ad-
vocated this reform.
The hearing today grew out OF the
Gibson subcommittee investigation TO
see why the District Commissioners mad
not put into effect certain recommenda-
tions made by the Bureau OF Efficiency
after a systematic study Of the munich
pal administration in the interests OF
economy and efficiency.
Saws No Law Is Needed.
Replying to a question by Repre-
sentative Gilbert, Democrat OF Ken
lucky, as to why the District employees
had not been placed under the civil
service. since so many persons favored
1t, Mr.. Brown said the Commissioners
had refused a conference on the sub
ject after Investigator McReynolds had
looked up a number of executive orders
and found that the Commissioners
could actually put civil service into
effect without any new legislation. The
proposal was that the Commissioners
could invite and the Civil Service Com
mission could supply a list OF eligibles
for vacancies to be filled Representa-
tive Hammer. Democrat OF North Caro-
lima, interjected the remark that pos
sibly local politicians had something to
do with it."
Civil Service Commissioner Wales
told the subcommittee that this reform
has been advocated for more than 30
years and recommended 1t be made in
mediately BY the Civil Service COM
mission A number Of District Conn
miSSioners have favored 1t and Presi-
dent Roosevelt advised Congress IN one
of his messages that this should be
done.
MIR. Wales said he favored leaving
the District government out Of the reg
ular classified service and that before
a bill was drawn he would like to adj
wise with members of the subcommittee
as to how il should be framed. Mr..
wales believed the plan of apporton-
ment by States should not be followed
and that for municipal positions resi-
dents of the District should have nrst
chance. He also favored covering IN
all present employees and making the
Law applicable TO those who might De
employed in the future
Denies LazineSS Charge.
Representative Gilbert asked Mr.
Kaplen what he thought OF the ratner
common complaint against the civl
service that il promotes laZineSs and
indifference through giving employees o
sense of security. Mr.. kaplen replleo
that that was not his observation nor
the experience of his organization. and
that ne entertained quite an opposi'e
Mr. Brown stated that during his In
te,sive study Of employment for more
than so years and through employeS
of the Bureau Of Efficiency who nao
been placed at times III private Nous-
try he had found that those ondsr clVi.
Serv,Se ara much more efficient and
ambitious than In private employment.
Previous TO this hearing ThornaS
Murphy. an investigator for the Bureau
OF Eificieney, and Ringgold Hart. as
sistant corporation counsel for the LIS
trict. were Questioned by the Suocofn-
mittee, continuing the discuSStosi OF
Yesterday relative 10 the Bureau OF
Efficiency'S plan To speed up the ols-
position OF minor traftic cases IN eoslcS
Court. This plan briefly contemplases
setting up i'll the various police stations
q uniform schedule Of fines for minor
cases and allowing the officers In their
own precincts TO I'LL in afildavlts rather
than going to Police Court to per-
sonaily file Information. The Rurean
of Efficiency has recommended such
system,
MIR. Hart advised the COMMITTEES that
from his long experience as . prosssot.S
in Police Court such plan is u0teaSnle
and would not operate SUCCESSFULLY. De-
ciSigAl was withheld