Evening star., 1933-01-14
PROMOTIONS PLAN
CUTTING FEDERAL
PAY ROLL DEVISED
InterdepartmentaI Transfers
to Fill Vacancies Would
Be Encouraged.
CIVIL SERVICE RECEIVES
O'ROURKE'S PROPOSAL
Suggests Advancing Several Work
ers Instead of Single Appoint
ment to Key Position.

A plan that he contends would bol-
ster the pay checks of workers and at
the same time save money for the Gov
eminent has been submitted to the
Civil Service Commission by the direc
tor of Personnel Research, DR.. L. j.
O'Rourke.
This paradoxical proposal entails
modification of the economy law to
encourage filling of vacancies by inter-
departmental transfers, procedure
that Dr. O'Rourke says now is handi-
capped by the proviso for impounding
funds wherever a vacancy occurs, and
for obtaining presidential approval
before any vacancy may be filled.
Il would be effective wherever the
agency in which the vacancy occurred
was unable to fill it from its own ranks.
The restrictions imposed in connec-
ton with filing vacancies, DR..
OEou-ke belieTes, encourages appoint
meatS from outside the ranks Of civil
service workers, for positions that
could be cared for better by promoting
men or women already holding lesser
posts.
Table Cited by DIR. O'Rourke.
The barrier to promoting these, as he
sees it, lies in their performing duties
which would be halted were they trans
ferred, pending presidential authority
for filling their places, and, as mat
ter of fact, would create vacancies with
out any guarantee that the authority
for filling them would be granted.
With essential work involved, a de-
partmental head might be unable to
sanction a transfer under such circum-
stances, DR.. O'Rourke says. Formerly a
vacancy could be filled from the regis
fay trrifl, nr1ocfior lon pynlainc
As an example of what this promo
tional plan would accomplish, Dr.
O'Rourke cites a table to show that
should there be vacancy in a $1,000
position, it could be used as vehicle
for promoting nine workers, who would
step into each others places at salary
boosts ranging from $100 to $500 an
nualiy. and that the ultimate vacancy
at the foot of the list could be filled by
q $4,000 appointment. Under this pro-
pcsal, he shows, the Government would
pay $4,000 in promotions, $4,000 for the
salary of the newcomer, and thereby
effect net saving Of $4,000, as the
ST 900 post would of necessity be filled
by a S6,500 appointment, this pay being
the minimum for that grade.
If the appointment was filed from
the outside, the entire $500 would go
to the individual chosen.
Statement Is Issued.
A statement in explanation of DR..
O'Rourke's plan says:
1T is therefore suggested that when
filling a vacancy in key position shall
have been approved, and when it Is as
economical, or more economical to the
Government to fill this vacancy from
within the service by either or both
promotions and changes of grade OF
one or more employees, the restrictions,
including the inlpolndlng Of funds as
to promotions and transfers and the
filling of vacancies in succeeding lower
grades made vacant by such promotions,
transfers or changes Of grades, shall
not apply"
DR.. O'Rourke points out that in the
pasG the building of careers in the Coy
ernment has been greatly hampered by
the fact that when vacancy occurred
there was no procedure for bringing to
the attention CT appointing officers the
relative qualif1ca lions CT employees in
the various departments. Thus, it is
explained. through no fault of the ep-
pointing officer, those employees definite
ly preparing themselves through edu-
cation and experience for certain
specific work often fail to receive con-
slider aticn for vacancies.
DR.. O'Rourke emphasizes that his
plan would not only lower the personnel
cost of the Government, but would
build a definite career system, the ad-
vantages of which would accrue in nor
NAL times as well as at present.
The plan does not necessarily aftect
the number CT appointments to the Fed
eral service it is added, for, although
it would deer asc the number Of new
appointments to the higher Salaried po-
sitions, there would be a corresponding
increase in the number of vacancies in
scientific and professional positions in
the $4,000 grade. or in subprofessional
0r lower grades