Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-24
Hoover Liberalizes Reinstate-
ment Rule, Opening Doors
to Former U. S. Workers.
NON-COMPETlTIVE TESTS
TO QUALIFY APPLICANTS
Government Officials Are Pleased
by Executive Order Changing
Regulations.

President Hoover has greatly liberal
ized the civil service rule on reinstate-
ment by an executive order. 1t was
learned today, and the changed policy
has BEEN placed in effect by the Civil
Service Commission, throwing wide open
a door which formerly had been closed
TO former employees of Uncle Sam.
The most important change in the
rule is that which eliminates the Ave-
year limit. Under the old rule, a per-
son who had worked for the Govern
ment and had been out OF Govern
ment employ for five years or more
could not be reinStated in the Gov
eminent service unless he had vet
Grams preference The President wiped
aside this five-year limit.
Qualification Is Established.
Under the new regulation. it II pro-
ded that any person who has worked
or the Government for period Of flve
ears or longer can be reinStated at
any time. without limit" If he can
qualify under an appropriate nom
competitive examination"
This means, according to Government
officials who were asked for an inter-
probation of the order. that many for
mer employees who wish to return to the
Government service now will be given
the opportunity of getting back on the
Federal pay roll without going through
the diff1cult procedure Of qualifying on
the regular civil service register, and
getting appointment in competition
with others from all parts of the United
States.
The change in the regulation was
recommended by the Civil Service Com
mission and was approved as recon-
mended. by the Chief Executive.
Enthusiasm Greets Change.
In all quarters OF the Government
service where the order became known
today. It was greeted with enthusiasm.
E. w. Libbey, chief clerk of the De-
partment of Commerce and chairman
of the Chief Clerks Association, de-
clared that to his knowledge many for
mer employees had attempted to re-enter
the Government service and were barred
by the old regulation. This certainly
will simplify the procedure" he said.
1T all Is in the interest of the indiv-
idual"
At the National Federatioini Of Fed
ersl Employees. Miss Gertrude Mentally.
vcie president of the organization.
was interested especially in the new
order She thought 1t would relieve the
president of much pressure from In
dividuals who previously had attempted
to get special individual executive Or
ders for themselves. restoring their in
dividual civil service status.
The old procedure" Miss Mentally
explained. allowed usually only two
kinds Of special executive orders in case
Of individuals. Either they were APP
pointed without regard to civil service,
because there was great need Of the
special kind Of service they could rem
der, or they were labeled charity"
"Charity" Label Is Eliminated.
Miss Mentally thought the new order
would place all this kind Of cases in the
hands of the Civil Service Commission
and allow many worthy persons TO quail.
ify and get back on the Federal pay roll
who otherwise could not get on or who
in extremity, might get on labeled
Charity
TT throws the door wide open," she
commented.
one feature which Miss Mentally
especially favored was that former en-
ployeS are to be given "non-competi-
tive" examination. This would make
them qualify for the job. she thought,
while relieving the difficulty OF obtain
ing appointment through the regular
civil service register.
we nedTGuy Cbu CClCui III hio p1o-
vision OF non -competitive examination,
she said.
At the Treasury Department. which
has one Of the largest groups Of Gov
eminent employees, officials considered
the order Of great Importance, especially
that part which lifted the five-year
limit.
Part Of the order amending previ-
Gus order. reiterates older regulations,
but the whole has attracted widespread
interest among both employees and for
mer employees of the Government.
Text Of Order.
The text Of the order is as follows:
UNLESS otherwise provided herein