Evening star., 1934-03-25
KAPLAN PREDICTS
GREAT EXPANSION
IN CIVIL SERVICE
Foresees 1000, 900 Work
ers on Public Pay Rolls
Covered by System.
EASTMAN ADVOCATES
SERIES OF REFORMS
Mrs. Roosevelt Attends Luncheon
of Citizenship School on
Government Personnel.

Government Personnel.
The Civil Service system was
analyzed and criticized and recon-
mendations were made for its i'm
provement during the a1l-day session
yesterday Of the Citizenship School on
Personnel in Government, presented
by the National and District Leagues
of Women Voters IN the Washing
ton Hotel.
One Of the most radical predictions
as to its development was that some
day it would be called upon to COW
er the 15,000,G 900 persons estimated
to be on public pay rolls now. This
assertion was made by H. Eliot Kap-
Ian, secretary Of the National Civil
Service Reform League, and brought
immediate protest. Sharp issue also
was taken with his estimate of the
number Of public employees.
Foresees Regimentation.
"T'he time inevitably will come"
Kaplan said, when we will have
reglmentation, and I will be glad to
see it. I believe firmly there is more
justice to be had in Government than
there ever was or ever will be in pri-
vate industry"
He defended his estimate of the
number on public pay rolls by saying
it included 100000 In the regular
employ Of Federal, State and NUM-
clpal governments and all those in
directly employed through the relief
and emergency agencies.
Specific Civil Service reforms were
advocated by Kaplan and by Joseph
B. Eastman, Federal co-ordinator of
transportation, speaker at the
luncheon, where Mrs. Franklin D.
Roosevelt was the guest of honor.
List of Suggestions.
Mr.. Eastman suggested:
i. Elimination of slave-driving tao
tics. where they exist.
2. Provision of opportunity for ad-
vancement for efficiency and ability
in addition to seniority.
3. Public recognition of good work.
4. Exclusion of politics and religion
from consideration in employment
and advancement.
Kaplan urged:
l. Central personnel agency.
2. Classification of duties and func-
tions of all employees with few stand
ardization of titles and uniform COM
pensation.
3. A comprehensive compensation
plan according to the work performed.
4. A scientific system of tests to Sc
lect employees for entrance into and
promotions within the service.
S. Control of pay rolls by the per-
sonnel agency.
6. Adequate machinery for handling
personnel problems among employees
within the service and separations
from the service.
7. Power of investigation by the
personnel agency of the administra-
ton of the system.
8. Prohibition of undue political
activity.
Politics Charged.
Earlier Kaplan In the presence of
Ambrose O'Connell, executive assist
ant to the Postmaster General, had
charged that examinations for post
masterships are mere questionnaires
as to political qualifications.
Political appointments and inter-
ference in personnel problems was
continually attacked throughout the
day. Mrs W. w. Ramsey, former
vice president of the National League
OF Women Voters, summed up the
feeling with the concluding state
ment that so long as political parties
exist there will be political appoint
ments, but it is desirable to limit
them as much as possible.
Representative Lamar Jeffers,
chairman of the House Civil Service
Committee, discussed the bill to create
conciliation committees. He said that
although such groups probably would
accomplish much good, the plan
might prove expensive.
Says System Intact.
Speaking at the luncheon, Harry
B. Mitchell, president of the Civil
Service Commission, said there Is no
basis for the popular impression that
inroadS have been made on the merit
system during the past year. He ex-
pressed the hope that all emergency
agencies, if they continue for an ex-
tended period, will be brought under
Civil Service.
Mrs. Lucille Foster McMillin, mem.
ber of the Civil Service Commission,
told of the progress made by women
in public service since the Civil War.
The citizenship school opened with
q general discussion of the scope and
functions of Government, led by Mrs.
Ramsey.
Round Table Discussion.
This was followed by a round-table
discussion of the subject. Does the
Present Personnel System Serve the
Best Interests of the Public?" The
party viewpoint was presented by Mr..
O'Connell; that of an expert in the
service by DR.. w. w. Stockberger.
personnel director of the Agriculture
Department; that of personnel man.
agement by Ismar Baruch, chief OF
the personnel classification division OF
the Civil Service Commission: that OF
the voter by Mrs. Ramsey and that OF
the citizen by Mrs. Charles Weston,
chairman of the local leagues De-
partment Of Efficiency in Govern
nent. Lewis Merriam of Brookings
Institution led the exchange OF ideas.
Presiding officers at the luncheon
and afternoon sessions, respectively,
were Miss Belle Sherwin, president Of
the National League, and Mrs. Henry
Goddard Leach, chairman Of the New
York Leagues Department OF En-
cheney in Government.
T. c4aE-Ina fa Small