Evening star., 1931-12-13
ASKS
BROADER POWERS
Civil Service Body Seeks
Means to Combat Polit.
icaI Activity.
Continued From First pase.l


mission. that too much leniency is being
shown. =
The report made ID recommendation
Tor changes in civil service procedure,
outstanding of which included
Consolidation of personnel agencies.
Retirement liberalization
Applying civil service throughout the
municipal government here.
Establishment of Court of Ap-
peas" for employees reduced, suspended
or dismissed.
Extension OF Merit System.
Extending the merit system TO coI-
lectors Of customs and internal revenue;
first, second and third class postmasters:
attorney positions. deputy collectors OF
internal revenue and once deputy
marshals and the United States EN-
ployment Service.
In recommending that all Federal
agencies which have to do with person
mel in the civil service be combined In
one administrative body, 1t Is explained
that this,Woald bring together INC activ-
it!gS CT the commiss on itself and those
Ct the Personnel Classification .3oard,
Employees Compensation Commission,
the fiscal end Of the retirement work
now carried en- by the Veterans Admin
lstrat1on, and the compilation of effi-
cheney ratings which now is a function
OF the Bureau of Efficiency.
1t is not recommended that this work
be consolidated in the Civil Service
Commission.
Irrespective, however, of any such
merger, it is urged that retirement fiscal
affairs be transferred to the commis-
glns1 from fha UabnraVcB A fv,;e a..
which took it over from the commits
sloner of pensions last year. This move
is urged in the interest Of economy and
efficiency.
Retirement Changes Urged.
Two retirement provisions would be
changed if the commissions recon-
mendations are accepted,
The first would permit optional re-
tirement after specified term of serv-
ice at an age lower than that allowed
by the present law, and the second to
permit relief to a person retired be-
cause of disability where the disability
disappears and the person is unable to
obtain reinstatement.
On the subject Of civil service for
District employees, the report recalls
that under an executive order of Mo-
Vember, 1880, posts in the District Gov
ernment-with certain exeeptions-may
be filled under civil service when 1t can
be done without additional expense,
that Is, when eligibles may be certified
from registers already established hy
the commission for Federal service.
The commission. however, cannot
hold competitive examinations for any
positions except those in the Police
and Fire Departments, and it proposes
that the law be changed to allow wider
application of the competitive exanina-
t1on system with necessary reserva-
tlons to protect the apportionment Of
Federal, positions in the departmental
service"
Ask Broader Scope.
To apply civil service to collectors
OF customs and internal revenue, cnd
first, secon dams third eias5. p0-ss1 = 8.
now presidential appointees, wca,Iis G-s-
pense with confirmation by the E-f,cte
and the -four-year term Of offlce. Z is
pointed out, leaving TO the Pre- l. ~.
however the power. to make such YtSlas
and exceptions as he may deem adj
yisable."
Deputy collectors of internal revenue
and Office deputy nlarshals formerly
were under Civil Service, being removed
in 1918, move which the commission
views as having been partial return
to the spoils system" 1t has previously
urged that these positions be restored
to the Civil Service. .
With regard to applying Civil Service
to attorney positions, the report points
out that Of 2,933 positions in the legal
group Of the Executive Civil Service,
the competitive system applies to
but 924.
Other recommendation are:
To authorize the President, through
the Bureau of the Budget, to exchange
allocattons of funds of the several de.
partments and independent establish
ments to permit concentration of per-
sonnei in those activities where WORK
Is temporarily increased, and away
from activities where decreases In work
take place within the budgetary period.
establishments of central file of
1ngerprints to avoid Implications, and
increase efficiency.
To change the laws relating to resi-
dence and domicile TO provide that resi-
dence. for eligibility for the appor-
toned departmental service, shall be
established in accordance with voting
privilege H..
In addition to its several recon-
menoatlons for improving the Civil
Service system, the commission out
lines It's work for the year and dis
cusses the advances made.
The creation of the Council of Per-
sonnel administration. designed to make
Federal employment more attractive as
career by increasing the chances for
promotlon and to coordinate more sue
cessfully personnel activities, is de-
scriped as the most important action
for improving the Civil Service in the
AZ years 1t has been operative.
improvements In the veteran pref
erence rules are regarded as another
notable accomplishment.
The commission reiterates its views
as to the beneficial results obtained
from character examinations and fin
gerpr1nttng to keep undesirables out OF
service, and proposes that these char
acter tests be required for all positions
Oh trust, instead of being limited to law
enforcement agencies.
The report shows that there were
81 1897 employees in the entire executive
c1vh service June 80 last, as compared
WITH 60S,9l5 the previous June. II
also brought out that there are now
a68,05O positions subject to competitive
under the civil service act.
gain of 5,s67 for the year.
HURT IN FALL ON STAGE