Evening star., 1935-01-17
Relief Workers and Other
Temporary Agencies Would
Be Included.
NEW BILL ADMITTEDLY
A REFORM REGULATION
Optional Retirement, Extension
of Classification and Board of
Appeals Provided.
BY WILL P. KENNEDY.

BY WILL p. KENNEDY.
One of the most comprehensive bills
on any particular subject in the House
for many years was introduced late
yesterday by Representative William
l. Sirovich of New York to extend the
civil service to include all workers in
the relief and other temporary agen-
cies.
During his entire service in Con-
gress Representative Sirovich has been
an active worker on the Civil Service
Committee and has sponsored much
important legislation. His new bill,
which is really six bills in one, came
as a result of tour months of intensive
study of the civil service and Govern
ment personnel. 1t was introduced
after conferences with the Civil Serv-
ice Commission and its administrative
officers, with officials of the various
labor organizations with which Gov
ernment workers are affiliated and
with outstanding authorities on pub
lie service and personnel questions. 1t
is admittedly reform measure.
Provisions of Bill.
It provides for correction of the re-
tirement law. with optional retirement
for all workers on the Government
pay roll after 80 years of service. 1t
provides for repeal of the present clas-
siflcation act and extension of classi-
fication with specific salary rates from
S700 to $4,000 and per hour rates
from SIS cents to 81. 1t sets up a
United States Civil Service Board of
Appeals. which is an especially well
coined feature approved by all who
have conferred with Mr.. Sirovich in
drafting the bill. 1t clearly provides
that there shall be no change in pref
erence tor veterans. 1t is to be known
as the Government personnel ad-
justment act of 1885"
Representative Sirovich summar-
ICES the bill as follows:
Places all present permanent and
indefinite civilian positions in the
executive branch within the competi-
tive features of the civil service act.
Places all future positions in the
executive branch within the competi-
tive features unless specifically ex-
empted by act of Congress or Execu-
tive order.
Exempts from this act positions
filled by election and positions spe-
cifically exempted by the President
or special act.
Requires civil service to report an
nually, giving data concerning eX-
cepted positions.
ton. including credit for experience
for persons included.
Provides that positions shall be re-
garded as permanent or indefinite
except those in which temporary ap-
pointments have been made under tie
civil service act.
Provides that hereafter a person
may not hold a temporary position
more than six months in any two
year period without Executive order.
Provides that non-competitive exam
ination will not be necessary if in
cumbent has passed an appropriate
examination.
Civil Service Retirement.
Provides for designation of Joint
and survivor" beneficiary to retirement
annuities; beneficiary must have in
surable interest.
Provides that person retired for dis
ability. after cure must be retained
on rolls until offered a comparable
job.
Provides 30-year optional retire.
| ment. Provides that future legislative
| employees shall be subject to retirement
act and that present legislative en-
ployes may. at their option, become
subject to retirement asst on payment
of contributions starting with date of
passage of this bill. Also provides
credit for present employees for past
service without payment.
Asserts principle that there shall be
equal pay for equal work in the whole
service.
Provides for administration of classi-
| fication by Civil Service Commission.
Creates position of director of claSSi-
fication and authorizes necessary ap-
preparations.
Provides that the automatic promo
tion system now in effect for more
than half of the Government employees
shall be extended to those employees
under this act. that is, that each en-
ploye doing satisfactory service shall
be moved up one rate at the end OF
each year of satisfactory service.
Provides the salary rates. The whole
Government service is by this bill di-
vided into eight services" as follows:
Professional and scientific, clerical,
administrative and fiscal, crafts and
custodial, inspectional and investiga-
tional, educational. lightkeeping and
depot keeping service, and clerical and
mechanical. Each grade within each
service is defined in this section and
reference can be made to any grade as
desired in this bill. Provides for re-
peal of the present classification act
as amended.
Civil Service Appeals Board.
Provides for the establishment of
United States civil service boards OF
Appeals.
Provides that if the board reverses
or modifies the decision Of the depart
ment by majority vote the employe
shall be forthwith restored to his
former position or to such position in
the same or another department as
the board may decide.
amin NAruTDc