Evening star., 1932-09-29
CIVIL SERVICE lob
SHIFTS EXPLAINED
Campbell AmpIifies Denial of
Senator Harrison's Charge
Against Hoover.

Amplyfying a denial of charges by
Senator Harrison, Democrat, of Missis-
sippi, that large group OF employees
from the Commerce and Justice de-
partments had been brought under civil
service by order CT President Hoover as
a political move. President Campbell Of
the commission, late yesterday explain
ed the circumstances leading to the
transfers
Earlier in the day, it had BEEN said
ct the commission that the shifts were
in conformity with the efforts Of that
agency to extend civil service, require
ments as far as possible over Govern
nlent personnel. and this was empha-
sized in Mr.. Campbells statement.
The civil service head also explained
the Classifying of more than thousand
employees in soldiers homes.
Senator H2rrison's attack en- the
Commerce Department case was leveled
at the Bureau Of Fcreign and Domestic
Commerce, where, he said, 337 employees
were affected. The Campbell statement
put the number at lat. In the Justice
Department. Campbell said 23l mtscel-
laneous positions were involved. Harri-
sons figure was 220.
Protection Of Jobs.
The Mississippi Senator had said that
by putting the employees unee- clHu
service, their jobs were rrctec-ed. In
this conre eoticn. it IVES reca led, however.
that changes effected by cne executive
order could be nullified by succeeding
order
Campbell's answer was as follows
Department of Commerce positions
were created by an act of Congress
in 1927 They involve the investiga-
ton of trade conditions abroad ana in
the United States. President Coolidge
placed the positions under schedule B
of the Civil Service rules, which pro-
vides for non competitive rather than
competitive examination for entrance.
In September, 1881, the Depart
ment Of Commerce desired to make
appointments unt- schedule B to po-
sitiors having to Go with domestic COM
merce. The Civil Service Commission
stated September 81. 1881. that It
could not approve euch appointments.
The matter was submitted by the Sec
rotary Of Commerce to the President,
with request for amendment OF sohed-
ule B to provide for on-competitive
examinations for appointment Of trade
specialists to promote both domestic and
foreign commerce. This request was
IS16IEeu w tllc SlNll NoCL VIC SOlAlA4o-
sion and November 4. 1881. the COM
mission reported to the President that
it believes that such positions should
be filled through open competitive ex-
animation under the Civil Service rules
Willingness TO Concur.
ON January 81, 1882. tn. Secretary
OF Commerce advised the commission
CT his Willingness to CONCUR in the
recommendation to the President that
an Executive order be issued bringing
all positions in the Bureau Of Foreign
srd Domestic Commerce in Continental
United States, Hawaii, and Alaska eX-
Copt the director and assistant director,
within the competitive classified status
ON March 10. 1892, the President
issued the order classifying the pcsl-
tions 1t will be seen that the issues
involved in the PRONUNCIATION CT the
order had to do with the classification
cf the positions and not the protection
ot the individuals end certainly not
with political matters. The order al
fccted 1E7 of the emoloves Of the Bu-
r2au CT Foreign an1 Dcnsstic COM
lre~on.
'r-aticnal ronas% for Disabled volun-
ter Sclditr5 resDect t. the
Classification Of more than 1000 en-
r1oye7 in the National Homes Tor
Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. the Presi-
cents executive order dated April %,
1881. affording the protection Of the
Civil Service act and rules to the
employees in the National Homes
for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, was
simply an outerowth Of section 4 tb)
of the act Of July 8. 1890. consolidating
the vetersns' Administration, the Bu-
reau Of Pensions and the National
Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers.
The act gave specific authority to the
President and the classification OF these
employees ives both good busines7 and
good Civil Service Administration.
Justice Department Placed.
Department of justice positions. with
respect to the placing OF 23i -n's-el-
laneous positions in the Depc rtment OF
Justice under the Civil Service act and
rules the question has been discussed
almost continuously since 1924. Under
the Civil Service rules as they have
existed since 1903. the Attorney Cen
trail was empowered to appoint any per.
sons he desired to all positions and
employments deemed by the Attorney
General to be legal or confidential in
their character
Under this authority numerous ap-
news General. The Civil Service Com
mission has always regarded the pro-
vision as Objectionable from the point
of view of the merit system. Finally.
after numerous conferences and after
an agreement had been reached be-
tween the Attorney General and the
Civil Service Commission as to which
positions should be regarded as conf.
dental or legal the Attorney General
and the Civil Service Commission Joint
" recommended to the President the
issuance of an executive order very
appreciably restricting the power OF the
Attorney General to make appoint
ments without regard to the Civil SerF-
ice act and rules.
The oroer was issued by President
Hoover on February 2. 1882. and Is re-
garded as a major step in the further
ance of the merit system and good
husiuess administration"