Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-19
r AZ She AssooIated Press.
The District and Civil Service.

The District and Civil Service.
There are many advantages in ap-
plying Civil Service status to some of
the municipal employees, and the word
ing Of the Presidents proclamation as
well as Commissioner Reichelderfer's
interpretations and explanations of the
new policy are apparent safeguards
against its disadvantages.
The advantages lie in the traditional
superiority Of the merit system, with
It's careful selection of qualified appli-
cants for positions in the District serv-
what sometimes becomes embarrassing
pressure upon the Commissioners, ex-
erted by influential members Of Con-
gress or Of the community in behalf
Of job-seeking constituents. There is
also the establishment Of accepted and
proved standards for positions as well
6 an eficient and orderly method in
filing them.
The disadvantages of arbitrarily COW
ering into the Civil Service all of the
municipal employees, without regard to
the nature Of their functions, are those
that would be expected with complete
naturalization Of the municipal eStab-
ltshment, and should be obvious to
every one.
Mr.. Reichelderfer explains that in
conferences between the Commissioners
and the Civil Service Commission the
important questions concerning appli-
cation of the Presidents order will be
carefully studied. The Presidents order
was issued ct the suggestion of the
Commissioners, and is so worded that
the manner and extent Of carrying 1t
out are left to the discretion of the
Commissioners. It is not mandatory or
binding, and If the experiment does not
prove advantageous to the District there
b nothing TO prevent reversion to
present status.
One Of the important questions to be
decided by the Commissioners lies in
che apporticnment of Offices law. It ID
neither practical nor desirable that the
features Of this law as applied to Fed
exal positions be construed under the
Presidents order as likewise applying
70 municipal jobs placed under thu
evil service. It should be so arranged
between the Commissioners and thu
Civil Service Commission that while
applicants for local positions from the
States viii not be Disseminated against
On that ground alone, there viii ct the
e9ne time be no discrimination on 9
quota basis against residents Of the
District. The matter Of giving prefer
entail consideration to local residents
for local Jobs in the locally supported
municipal government win DOUBTLESS be
considered by the Commissioners, who
wiz at the same time refuse 10 tie their
hands In exercising the privilege OF
selecting the best material, no matter
what its source.
Another important-the most i'm.
portant-Question concerns the selection
o. those branches of the District gov.
eFnment or the classification By func.
ton Of the employees. to be placed urIdeI
the Civil Service. Il Is improbable, foi
instance. that the public schools or thu
public library system would be place.
Under the Civil Service. Each has It.
own process of selection by competition
With rigid standards, designed for locat
conditions. IN both the responsibility
IN selecting personnel has been estab.
hshed by law, and it would not be vel
TO change it. The same objections may
apply in the case Of other divisions Of
the municipal government, IN which
ease the Commissioners. exercising tfeil
discretion, win leave them as they are
It is believed that the Commissioners
with the sympathetic cooperation Of
ehe President, have taken q wise step
TIE full advantages Of which will In
Ga1e time become aYrarerk