Evening star., 1932-12-02
SENATORS TO HEAR COMPLAINTS
ON ECONOMY BILL TOMORROW

1 ice The Civil Service Commission does
not discuss the annual leave question,
but made the following recommendation
regarding sick leave:
THE commission recommends that
the last proviso of section 2l5 with
| respect to so-called sick leave of absence
be changed as follows:
THAT seven days of sick leave of
absence be permitted per annum in
lieu of the present 30-day provision but
that sick leave of absence not taken
be permitted to accumulate for use in
connection with serious and extended
| illnesses
THE present 3o-day sick leave pro-
vision results in abuses by small per-
centage OF the Federal personnel, 1t
being impracticable to make investiga-
tions of alleged sicknesses. while at the
same time 1t does not afford a proper
| protection to employees who throughout
the years take no sick leave of absence
and are suddenly confronted with an
extensive necessary period of absence
due to severe illness
Statistics have been compiled which
show that the average sick leave is
approximately six days year per en-
ploye. This sick leave is taken, how
! ever, by approximately rs per cent CT
the personnel so that a small proper
ton OF the personnel take almost the
entire permitted sick leave whereas
many employees take none, and in
period OF severe illness they are handi-
capped. 1t Is believed that the recon-
mended change will result in a very
appreciable reduction of the average
SICK leave taken, since all employees will
| be conservative in the matter of ab-
sence due to slight Illness in order to
conserve leave TO provide for future
| serious illnesses.
THE commission is of the opinion
that this charge will adversely affect
only those who abuse the present pro-
vision: VIII be helpful to those who do
not indulge in such abuses and will
result in an average of three or pos
all Federal civil servants. This last
will result in an appreciab!e saving"
Elastic Policy Urged.
The commission also recommended
that the President be given authority
to make interdepartmental as we'll as
1nterappropriation transfer of funds in
order to permit elasticity in the assign
ment OF personnel. Under such author
1ty oVerWorked bureaus could be relieved
without additional expenditure by the
use of employees from other Offices where |
work is slack. If Congress is unwilling |
to go this far, the commission suggests |
continuation of the clause in the econo- |
my law allowing the transfer Of IL per |
cent OF any appropriation to other |
activities in the same department.
The report pointed out that the econ |
orny act resulted in the merging of the |
Personnel Classification Board with the |
Civil Service Commission on October /, |
but that there remain other agencies |
dealing with matters which should be |
brought together, namely: The Civil |
Service Commission, the retirement sub |
division of the Veterans Administration, /
the United States Employees Compen-
sation Commission, and the personnel |
functions of the Bureau of Efficiency. |
The commission urged that all person. |
mel activities be brought together as i
early as possible.
Implications Taken Up.
The commission also urged the elirni- |
nation of duplication in keeping per- |
sonnel records in the departmental !.
service. pointing out that the personnel |
administration in the departmental |
service costs approximately 81 500 900 !,
year. In this connection, 1t said:
"The large forces engaged OIL per-
sonnel work are needed chiefly because |
each department and establishment |
maintains complete service records OF |
its employees. These records are dupli- |
Gated in the Office of the United States |
Civil Service Commission. The elimina- |
ton of Implications in personnel rec
ords would make for substantial saw
ing in personnel administration"
Lieut.. Col U. S. Grant, 3rd, in re-
porting for the ONCE of Public Build |
ings and Public Parks, concurred, in |
general way, in the recommendations |
of the Civil Service Commission for |
doing away with the legislative fur |
Tough, retention OF the administrative |
furlough to cope with reduced appro- |
priations, removal of the ban on pro-
motions and filling of vacancies, and |
repeal of the married persons clause.
Chairman Winslow of the United |
States Board of Mediation told the
committee the whole subject of fur
loughs and impounding should be clari-
fed and made definite.
The United States Board of Tax Ap-
peals pointed out that nearly double /
the number of cases ordinarily set for |
nearing are being placed on the trial |
calendar this year and that notwith-
standing necessity for disposing of |
cases. the board has been compelled to !
increase the legislative furlough of its
employees from two and one-half to five |
days per month in order to stay within |
It's appropriation. Regarding further |
economies the board reported that the |
estimates submitted for the next fiscal |
year are $25,00 less than was requested |
for the current year. With the present !;
volume Of work, any substantial reduc-
ton in personel would be unwise, the |
board says.
Numerous Decisions Cited.
The Bureau of Efficiency in urging
that changes in the economy law be not
made except to correct great hardships,
argued:
1T has been necessary for the Con-
troller General to render several hun
dred decisions interpreting the act as
1t applied to these problems. These de-
cisions have given the various ad-
miniStratiVe officers an understanding
of how the law shall be applied. I be-
lieve that Congress should follow very
definite policy that no amendment to
the act shall be made unless it is neces-
sary to remove very great hardship
or to correct substantial discrimina-
ton. submit this suggestion in the
belief that If numerous amendments are
made, uncertainty as to the meaning
and application Of the law as amended
will exist until decisions can be rem
dered by the Controller General. Such
general uncertainty is decided hard
ship to the efficient discharge of the
administrative work Of the Govern
ment. and should be avoided as far as
possible
The bureau chief suggested one
amendment to correct an inequality in
the retirement allowances Of a group OF
1000 postal employees. This group was
deprived of retirement pay for approx
mately three weeks in July.
One definite new economy recon-
mended is the diScontinuance for one
year Of Summer training camps for the
National Guard and Reserve Corps,
which would save Sl8,000,000.
The United States Employees Com
pensation Commission, handling the |
welfare of injured employees, and which |
is one Of the personnel agencies the |