Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-28
SURVEY EXPECTED
TO AID PROMOTION
OF i. S. WORKERS
Vital Step in Improvement of
Civil Service Seen in
Executive Order.
REMOVES "STONE WALL"
AGAINST ADVANCEMENT
listing of Personnel to Permit
Transfer of Most Efficient
Employees.

BY breaking down the "stone WALL
against which many superior Govern
ment employees find themselves, the per-
sonnet survey provided for in the ex-
ecutiye order Of President Hoover, is
sued yesterday, Is expected to prove
one of the most important steps toward
Improvement of the Federal Civil Serv-
ice since the passage of the civil service
law in 1888.
For many years it has been realized,
both by the employees and by Govern
ment officials in charge Of personnel,
that each department has been oper-
ated as to personnel almost independent
of other branches. AS q result, many
competent employees have left the serv-
ice, adding to the expensive labor turn
over, because they found themselves at
their limit of promotion in the par
ticular department in which employed,
although their services might well have
been utilized in q higher grade OF work
In some other branch of the Federal
service.
The personnel survey about to be
made will correct that condition, 1t Is
explained by those who have been work.
ing out the plans since the suggestion
was made by the President to Thomas
Z. Campbell, president Of the Civil
Service Commission, several months ago.
objects Are Outlined.
The objects Of the survey, it was
pointed out, are to: So
Establish more effective liaison
system between the Civil Service
Commission and the several depart
ments.
Coordinate personnel administra-
ton in the Federal service.
Make more attractive the prospect
of a career In the Federal. service.
Improve selection methods.
Attract better people to the serv-
ice.
Reduce excessive turnover among
the better qualffied employees.
Avoid excessive increase in per-
sonnet
Provide for the training Of per- =
ssonnel assistants In departments and
independent offices.
Make available to the Government
the best personnel practices Of pri-
waite industry
Develop more adequate system
Of personnel records. s -
Increase the efficiency Of the Gov
eminent service.
Developed by DIR. O'Rourke.
The plan. as outlined by Commits
sioner Campbell, was developed. by Or.
personnel administration of the Civil
Service Commission, who win serve as
director Of the council Of personnel adj
ministration, provided for by the Ex-
ecutive order to carry ont the projects
approved By the beard. This council
consists of the heads Of the various de-
partments, the president OF the Civil
Service Commission, the director of the
Bureau Of the Budget, the chief Of the
- I'd oh - -
the Interstate Commerce Commission
and the administrator Of veterans af-
fairs, with the president Of the Civil
Service Commission as chairman of the
council.
It is provided that DIR. ORourke
shall appoint Project Committee, con-
sisting of representatives of Govern
ment departments. and advisory COM
mittees representing private industry,
research organizations, and the field OF
education, who will assist him In FORM
ulating projects to be submitted to the
Executive Committee.
The five members of the council
designated TO serve as an Executive
Committee are the president Of the
Civil Service Commission, the Secre-
taries Of Agriculture, Interior and Com
nnerce and the chief Of the Bureau Of
Efficiency.
Leaders TO Aid Work.
Leaders in personnel matters in pri-
vate industry, in research organizations
independent Of the Government and in
the field Of education have signified
their willingness TO serve in an ADVISORY
capacity. These include H. S. Dem
nison, president, Dennison Manufac-
turing Co.; Arthur Young Of the In
dustrlal Relations Counselors; C. r.
Dooley, personnel manager OF the
Standard OIL Co. of New York; j. w.
Dietz, personnel manager of the West
ern Electric Co.; L. W. Wallace, secre-
tary American Engineering Council;
Alfred Finn, director, Engineering
Foundation; w. F. Willoughby, di-
rector, Institute of Government Re
search: c. r. Mann, chairman, Amer
lean Council on Education; H. S. Per-
son, managing director, Taylor Society:
w. S. Donald, secretary, American
Management Association; w. v. Bing-
ham, director, Personnel Research Fed
Grafton; Edward L. Thcrndike, Depart
ment Of Psychology. Teachers College,
Columbia University. and w w. Char
tiers. Department of Education Ohio
State University
The survey will have in view, among
other things. the collection and dis
seminaticn Of information which will
make available more definite knowl-
edge Of lines Of promotion; Of what has
actually taken place in the way of pro-
motion Of these who have entered the
service; the more ready transfer from
one department TO another of compe-
tent employees to fill vacancies which
now in mcst cases are filled by new APP
pointments; training courses for per-
sonnet assistants in each department,
and the encouragement of training for
Government service in the colleges and
ii1iversities