Evening star., 1932-12-02
CONTINUED From First Page.)

that has come to the attention of thi
Budget Bureau as to the operation O
the economy law and what should b
done for the next fiscal year.
Another Session Called.
Senator Bingham, Republican, o
Connecticut, acting chairman, announcet
the committee would hold anothei
executive session this afternoon will
Col Roop, Postmaster General Brown
Controller McCarl and Brig. Gen
Frank T. Hines. director of the Vet
erans' Administration. 1t was empha
sized that Gen. Hines is being callel
in only on administrative problems ane
not to discuss the broad question o
veterans allowances, which is to b.
gone into by separate joint commit
tee Of Congress.
The most comprehensive set Of rec
concentrations were those sent by the
Civil Service Commission, covering
many phases of the economy law.
First, came the commissions ples
that the legislative furlough plan bt
dropped at the end of this fiscal yeal
and that there should be return tt
the deliberately studied pay schedules
in the last amendment to the classifi-
cation act without the use of automatic
furloughS." This recommendation re-
fers to the general 24-day furlough re-
quired Of all employees receiving more
than 81, 1000 year. and which is equiv.
alent to an 81s per cent pay cut.
While recommending abolition of the
general legislative furlough, the COM
mission suggested that 1t might be ad-
visable to retain in permanent law the
principle of the So-called admins
trative furlough" authority which was
given department heads this year tc
enable them to stay within reduced ap-
propriations without dismissing outright
large numbers of employees. Discussing
the administrative furlough question
the commission said:
This provision is limited to the fiScaI
year 1893. 1t has undoubtedly de-
creased the number of employees drop
ped from the rolls involuntarily, while
permitting offices to remain within ap-
preparation limits. 1t may be advisable
depending on appropriations for future
years, to include in permanent legisla-
ton the principle of administrative
furloughing. Particularly will this be
true If appropriations are to be dras-
tically reduced in any one year for any
one Office.
Protection Threatened.
There Is one point which has not
been given public attention in connec-
ton with section 216 {the administra-
ton furlough) which should be given
careful study if this type of legislation
is to be made permanent policy. 1t will
be noticed that in the language of Sec
tion ZIG the heads of the various estab-
hshments are given absolute discretion
to decide which employees shall be fur
loughed and what amount of time each
employe will be furloughed. This pro-
vision makes 1t possible for administra-
tive Offices to disregard those protec-
tions thrown around employees in the
matter OF abuses of discretion by ad-
ministrative officers. An employe whose
record Is good and whose efficiency rat
ing is good may not be dropped under
present provisions of law if other less
efficient employees are retained. An en-
ploye may not be dropped because of
alleged inefiiciency or under other
charges without compliance with certain
procedure which tends to prevent hasty
and biased action. Under the present
language of section 216, however, the
same employe may be furloughed for
any period, no matter how long, with
out any opportunity to know what Is the
matter or in what respects he is alleged
to be deficient.
THE present laws with respect to re-
movals and reductions of force do not
at all prevent the removal or dropping
Of inefltient or unworthy employees.
They do prevent hasty, ill-considered
actions particularly II such actions are
based on political or religious prejudice.
One Of the most necessary elements of
the merit system is the protection of
employees against political or religious
prejudice in the minds of superiors.
Section 216 carries the seed of the de-
struction of all Of this needed protec-
tion. Since an indefinite or lengthy
furlough is tantamout to removal, 1t is
recommended that If the theory of Sec
ton 216 is to be perpetuated In the law,
1t be provided that furlough in excess
of limited time, say 80 days, may not
be imposed on an employe without COM
pliance with those provisions Of the law
governing the reduction Of force"
Having recommended return to
classification act salaries without COM
pulsory furloughs, the commission also
the economy law requiring the i'm
saved through the general furlough
plan.
In recommending repeal Of the ban on
promotions, the commission reported
that majority of its members feel this
feature should be discontinued at the
end of this fiscal year in order to re-
turn to a standard and equitable per-
sonnel policy with respect to compen-
sation."
The commission told the committee
the section requiring presidential ap-
proval for the filling Of vacancies sis
regarded as being very onerous and as
having resulted in questionable saving.
1t has been necessary to set up new
activity for the purpose of passing on
the necessity of filling vacancies. 1t Is
recommended that the President be re-
lieved of personnel responsibility In this
matter, and that if 1t Is deemed advis-
able to continue the checking Of the
necessity of filling vacancies a majority
of the commission believes that this
function should be imposed on the Civil
Service Commission, which is currently
informed concerning the functions and
duties Of the various positions in the
Federal service"
Regarding the compulsory retirement
forage section of the law, the commits
sion reported:
THE majority Of the commission
recommends with respect to retirement
the adoption of the following policies:
Il. Optional retirement after 80 years
service.
80 Mandatory retirement without ex-
ception for those employees, the filling of
whose Positions does not require Senate
confirmation, on reaching the retire.
ment age prescribed for automatic sepa-
ration from the service.
In effect these recommendations viii
retain the compulsory retirement for
age for all employees not subject to Sem
ate confirmation, for whom there would
be no compulsory retirement, and will
permit voluntary retirement after 80
years service. These recommendations
do not provide for any exceptions to the
compulsory retirement by act of the
President or the commission or by any
other agency.
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