Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-27
D. c. HEADS EXEMPT
SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES
FROM CIVIL SERVICE
Commissioner ReiCheIderter
Informs Dr.. CaruSi and Dr..
BoWerman of Policy.
RECOGNIZES THEY HAVE
OWN SELECTIVE SYSTEM
Capper Favors Appointment of
Residents Under New Order,
if Practicable.

The District Commissioners will not
include employees of the Public Library.
the public schools and the STATS of the
hospitals and other institutions under
the Board of Public Welfare in the lists
of appointees to be selected from the
civil service eligible lists.
This has been made clear in letters
addressed by DR.. Luther H. Reicheloer-
fer, president of the Board of Commits
sioners, to DR.. George F. Bowerman'
librarian of the Public Library; Or.
Charles F. Carusi, president OF the
Board of Education, and George .. WI
son, mead of the Board OF Public wei
fare.
The position of the Commissioners
regarding the library was made clear
In response to query from DR.: Bower
man. who pointed out to the Commis-
sioners that the Public Library uses It's
own methods of determining the quail
flcations of its employees. The same
situation prevails in the schools.
Text Of Letter.
The text of DR.. Reichelderfer's letter
10 DIR. Bowerman follows:
1T have your letter of November Fl
regarding the order recently issued by
the President concerning the use Of
the eligible lists of the Civil Service
Commission in the making Of appoint
ments to positions in the munlclpal
service. inclose a copy OF this oroer
and also copy of instructions to heads
Of departments as to its operation.
"As the Public Library uses its own
methods of determining the qualifica-
tions of its employees, there is no in
tention at the present time to require
any appointment made by the Public
Library to be selected from eligible llSts
of the Civil Service Commission.
VERY truly yours,
"(Signed)
LUTHER H. REICHELDERFER.
President"
Similar letters were addressed to DR..
Carusi and Mr.. Wilson.
THE order to department heads men
toned in the letter directed them IN
future when desiring to fill vacancies
TO certify to the secretary OF the Board
of Commissioners the nature OF the
position to be filled. After SUCH ceru-
fcation, the secretary Is to determine
whether such a position is one tnal
could be filled from the Clvn service
eligible lists.
Capper Approves Order.
Voicing approval Of President HOO
ver's order permitting the District gov
srrment to use the civil service facili-
ties. Chairman Capper of the senate
District Committee expressed the nope
TODAY that the Commissioners Will Put
the new order into effect as soon as
practicable.
he Thought that jobs in the District
aeryice should be filled by local cltl-
xe1s in so far as 1t is possible.
at hope also" said the Senator, tnat
the example thus set by the President
Will hasten the establishment OF the
merit system in the 80 States where
its great power for clean government Is
still unknown.
THE Presidents permissive order
will allow the Commissioners to choose
efflcient employees by regular civil serV-
ice examination 1t also permits the
Commissioners to fill vacancies in the
District service from the commission
list of those eligible for appointment TO
Government positions.
at think this is a great advance in
the cause of good government. 1 I'M
derstand that the Commissioners have
been In favor of this change for some
tiune. and I am sure that they will
make use Of the privileges accorded
them.
Benefits Called Obvious.
lone may wonder why this was not
done long ago, for its benefits are OBJ
vious. At present, the District employees
are under the same rules regarding
leave. retirement, etc, as the workers In
the Federal departments. 1t Is emf
nently fitting that the basis for en-
ploynnent by the District government
should be merit.
1.-The Presidents order brings to the
District another advantage which Is
Of particular interest to Washington.
This is the selection of District resi-
dents from the eligible lists of the
Civil Service Commission. The posi-
tions In the Federal service are appor-
toned under the State quota system
II often happens that Westinghouse
on the list are passed by in the making
of appointments because their quota
Is exceeded. Under the new arrange
ment, however, they can be selected
from the lists by the Commissioners
to MI vacancies in the personnel of the
District government In my opinion
this Is simple justice. So far as is
possible, the positions in the District
government should be filled by District
citizens
st trust that the Commissioners Will
put the new order Of things into eff
feet as early as possible, so that the
District may begin to reap the benefit
Of this important governmental reform
without delay"