Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-12
CONGRESS TO GET
DATAON WORKERS
Information on Field CIassifi.
cation to Be Ready by
December.

Complete information on which to
base q classification system for the
more than 100000 Federal employees in
the field services throughout the coun-
try will be ready for Congress when 1t
meets in December.
Preliminary surveys containing vo-
luminous research data on the field
services have been filed with the Civil
Service Committees of the House and
Senate during the past IS months, and
William H. McReynolds of the Bureau
of Efficiency and Personnel ClaSSiflca-
ton Board said today the final report
would be finished this Fall. 1t will be
transmitted to Congress as soon as the
session convenes, and Is not expected to
be made public until that time.
With the retirement law and the adj
justsment Of inequalities resulting from
the Interpretation of the WEIGH salary
law settled at the last session, this
question of classification for the fleld
services Is one of the next big prob
lens relating to Federal employees to be
tackled by the lawmakers.
Congress viii Consider Law.
Just how far Congress will be able
to 90 in the short session, ending next
March, toward the drafting of q field
service classification law Is problemati-
cal, but 1t Is probable that the subject
will receive consideration.
The original classification law ap-
piled only to the Government Depart
ments In Washington. Since the enact
deavored to adjust pay rates for his
large army Of workers in the States to
conform as nearly as practicable to the
rates for similar duties in the District
of Columbia, but the Classification
Board stated in its preliminary report
last year that there Is need for CLASH
fication system and co-ordinated con-
troll in the field services.
The preliminary report said that
some departments and bureaus have
maintained remarkably consistent and
equitable relationships among positions
in their field officeS and between their
field and departmental positions, but in
other instances the report found adj
iustmentS needed.
Largest Classification Study.
One of the objects Of classification for
the field services would be to co-ordi-
nate equitably the ALLEGATIONS Of posi-
tions in the field ofilces of different de-
pQrtmenCS In the same clues, IN amer
ent bureaus of the same department and
positions in the field service with their
counterparts in the District Of Co
lumbia.
The survey Of the Governments field
service, with view to ultimate CLASH
fieation, was authorized by the WEIGH
act and has been one Of the largest
classification and compensation studies
ever undertaken. The number of posi-
tons involved In the field service Is
more than twice the number affected
by the original classification act Of
1928, which was limited to Federal
workers in Washington.
The field service also includes many
functions different from the varied
activities Of the Government In Wash
jngton, such as reclamation projects,
educational work among the Indians,
operation of light houses and the in
spection services,
Those conducting the survey gathered
into their preliminary report last year
large volume of data on compensation
and working conditions of employees
outside the Government service for the
purpose of comparison in working out
the essential features of the new claS-
sification system for the Governments
field employees.