Evening star., 1932-12-12
.LAUDS APPOINTING
BY MERIT SYSTEM
Civil Service Board AssaiIs
Other Methods in Report
to President.

Appointment Of Government EN-
ployes ION any basis other than merit"
was criticised as bad economy" by
the Civil Service Commission, in its
annual report to the President.
The commission declared there was
ample evidence" to support this con-
tention, in arguing for extension OF
civil service to cover several groups OF
workers.
The report made 40 recommenda-
tionS for general improvement of per
sonne1 conditions. Several Of the most
important, dealing with changes pro-
posed in the economy act. were made
public week ago through the Senate
Economy Committee.
Important Recommendations.
Among these are:
Restoration of the pay scale, cut 8Ha
per cent this year and now facing an
additional slash.
Abandonment of the marital status
restriction.
Return to normal and equitable
promotion system"
Allowing departmental heads to fill
vacancies, a power now reposed In the
President, who has also recommended
this change.
Ordering of furloughs in excess of
three months would be prohibited under
another recommendation, unless the
employe has been afforded the same
protection provided for those separated
from service by reduction of force.
The commission also would change
the retirement law to provide optional
retirement after 80 years service.
The administration in two establish
ments-Government Printing Office
and Federal Trade Commission-are
taken to task in the report. In the
former instance, criticism in the last
annual report of George H. Carter. the
public printer, draws the commission S
fire, and in the latter. what Is de-
scribed as "misassignments" of en-
ployes Is hit.
Public Printer Quoted.
In his last annual report, the public
printer is quoted as leveling the follow
ing shaft at civil service:
THE civil service system Of hiring
and discharging employees is likewise
cumbersome and adds materially to the
cost Of Government operation by the
slow and expensive method of obtain
ing employees and readjusting the force
| to the needs Of the service from time
| to time"
Of this, the commission says
"On January 80, 1882, the commits
sion wrote to the public printer quot
ing the above paragraph from his an
nual report, and said, the commission
requests to be informed as. to the spe-
cific grounds for complaint
Having received no reply, the COM
mission repeated It's letter Of March
26, 1892. It is still without reply"
Procedure at the Federal Trade Com
mission in employing personnel was
characterized as involving Serious
abuses" of the statutes providing for
exception of certain classes Of posi-
tions from the requirement Of competi-
tive examination. 1t was added that q
survey showed II employees had been
designated as special expert" or "ex-
aminer," when for the most part they
were performing only routine clerical
work. The matter later was ironed out
Glasses Recommended.
Those classes of employees which the
commission suggests should be brought
under civil service are:
PoStmaSters at first, second and thirC
class Offices; collectors and deputy col
lectors Of internal revenue, collectors o.
customs, marshals and deputy marshals
attorneys OF all grades, Eli pOSlIlOuS III
the United States Employment Service
and positions under the government o.
the District of Columbia.
This list includes patronage" job.
which the commission before has urged
should be brought within the merit sys.
TEN.
On the question Of retirement, the
commission says mo inflexible retire.
ment age can meet the interests OF the
service. Were it possible to determine