The Washington times., 1935-12-20
CIVIL SERVICE
FILES ANNUAL
REPORT
BY J. EARLE MOSER

Making public it's fifty.Second
annual report for the fiscal year
1885, the Civil Service Commission
today recommended nine legiSla-
tive benefits deemed necessary for
the Government service, in time
for possible Congressional action
in January.
Heading the list Of recommend
dations is a provision to extend
the merit system throughout the
service by placing New Deal
agencies under the civil service
laws and regulations as soon as it
is evident that they are to become
established branches of the Fed
eral structure.
Other points recommended are:
/. To bring postmaSters Of first,
second and third class post offices
into the competitive classified serv-
ice, as we'll as other administrative
offices that have no hand in form
ing political policies.
2. Centralizing of the retire
ment accounts of all service
branches in the commissions Of
flee.
Optional Retirement Age
8. Establishment of a uniform,
optional retirement age Of so
years after 80 years Of service,
with either the employe or the
Government at liberty to exercise
the option.
4. Establishment of an annuity
to workers who retire because of
physical disability, then recover
health before reaching the auto
matte retirement age. and through
no fault of their own are unable
to secure reinstatement within
the 90-day limit now provided by
law.
5. To allow employees. if they
wish, to take a reduced retirement
annuity so that payments on a
reduced scale may be passed on"
to a surviving dependent.
8. To allow employees who desire
to increase their retirement bene-
fits to increase their contributions
to the retirement fund in "speci-
fled and limited amounts"
7. Extension of classification to
100000 field service positions in
which salaries are not fixed by
legislation or wage boards.
8. Application Of the ClasSifica-
ton Act to emergency agencies
that have thus far not operated
under this law.
Employment Increase
Today'S report revealed that
civilian Government employees in
creased approximately 7 per cent
during the fiscal year ended June
30, 1885, at which time there were
719,440 workers on the rolls
against but 673,095 a year earlier.
1t is also revealed that of the
total number of workers, SO per
cent are included in the competi
tive classified service.
The annual report defends the
commissions attitude in regard to
college graduates, which has been
severely attacked by one group of
organized Government workers.
Pointing out that it was directed
by a Senate resolution of Febru-
ary 4, 1895, to show what steps
have been taken to lure college
trained persons into the service,
the report states:
approximately 80 per cent Of
the positions within the classi-
fled service are. such as to re-
quire no specified institutional
training. Under the commits
siOn's examination procedure
for this class of positions. there
is no educational prerequisite
for admission.
"Ability and aptitude, as
shown by practical examination
tests, are the determining fac
tors in examination ratings.
Although fully appreciating the
value of institutional training,
the commission endeavOrS not
to discriminate against the in
dividual who for reasons beyond
his control has been denied the
educational opportunities en-
jOyed by others"