Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-20
Those With Prison Records to
Be Accepted Only if They
Have Reformed.
CIVIL SERVICE TO ACT
AS JUDGE OF FITNESS
Realizes Blacklist by Government
Would Close All Avenues to
Legitimate Employment.
BY REX COLLIER.

Under its new policy Of fingerprint-
ing all appcintees to the Government
service, the Civil Service Commission
has set itself up as judge Of the
morals of Federal employees.
The f1ngerprint system-extended to
include every class of civil service
appointee with the beginning of the
fiscal year July ALREADY has exposed
a considerable number Of persons
with a past" but not all Of these will
be barrel
If circumstances warrant, give the
applicant another chance to make
good"
This, in substance, is to be the
policy OF the commission in passing on
the criminal records of those who seek
to enter Federal employment.
The Civil Service Commission realizes
that automatic disbarment would be
grave injustice to person who is striv-
ing to atone for a previous wrong. The
stigma of permanent blacklisting by
the Government would be an almost
unsurmountable barrier to honest work
in any field of endeavor. Private en-
ploye would be likely to follow the
Governments lead. With the doors to
all avenues Of legitimate work closed to
him, the blacklisted one would be
forced to resort to illegitimate means
of making living.
Considers Social Problem.
The commission Is cognizant of the
social problem involved in the finger
printing and character investigation Of
applicants, and has adopted policy Of
discretion in judging the moral fitness
OF prospective appointees," 1t was de-
clared today by Herbert E. Morgan, as
| sistant chief of the Recruiting Division.
The mere fact that an applicant has
| police record behind him does not
make him ineligible for appointment"
Mr.. Morgan continued. The commits
sion weighs all the evidence against
him before making a decision. II the
record indicates the applicant is an
habitual criminal he is turned down, Of
| course. If, however, he was guilty of
| an offense against society many years
ago, but has reformed and has become
6 good citizen, he should be given o
| chance by the Government.
| "Of course, the final question Of his
employment rests with the various de-
partments. If the department does not
accept him when he is certified by the
commission, there Is nothing the COM
mission can do about it."
FingerprintS Checked.
1t is estimated that fingerprints of
more than 10000 appointees will be
taken during the current fiscal year.
Each set of prints is referred to the
division Of identification Of the Bureau
Of Investigation, Department Of JUS
tice, where a check Is made against
the nearly 100000 ingerprints Of
criminals on file there If the appli-
cant has a criminal record, the JUS
tice oficials send the commission .
copy.
The f1ngerprint system has been ef-
fective not alone in exposing criminals
having Interior motives in entering the
Government service, but in discourage
ing such undesirables from applying for
employment. Mr.. Morgan told of the
experience of an examiner who was
taking the application of a man for an
important Federal post.
This man passed all the tests per-
fectly. At the close of the examination
the applicant was advised of final re-
quirement-the taking of his finger
prints.
rs that absolutely necessary" he in
quired with surprise.
"Oh, yes" he was informed. cts
just formality."
We'll" he replied, taking his hat.
lust forget about that application.
I've changed my mind ..