Evening star., 1935-12-20
MERIT EXTENSION
AGAIN ADVOCATED
Civil Service Report Stresses
Need and Repeats Recon-
mendations.

The need for extension Of the
merit system was emphasized once
more today In the annual report OF
the Civil Service Commission.
Repeating recommendations Of past
years, the commission proposes civil
service for:
All the newly-created agencies that
are likely to be permanent.
Postmasters Of the first, second and
third class.
All other administrative positions in
the Government that are not policy
determining, such as collectors Of
customs and internal revenue.
: Last Sessions Fight Recalled.
During the last session of Congress,
a number of bills were introduced to
bring postmasterships at first, second
and third class offices into the classi-
fed service, but they were not finally
acted upon," the commission said.
THE commission has repeatedly
advocated the classification Of presi-
Dental postmasters, since it has always
regarded postmasterships as business
offices comparable with many positions
which are subject to the provisions
of the civil service act and rules.
The same may be said Of the Offices
of collectors of customs, collectors OF
internal revenue and others now out
side the competitive classified service.
The classification, under the civil
service law, of such positions, Is urged
in the interests Of the/service."
Bills Still Pending.
The commission Is known to be
hopeful that the move to put post
masters under the competitive system
of appointment will get through Con-
gress this year. There are admins
tration bills in Senate and House
sponsored by Senator OMahoney Of
Wyoming and Representative Mead Of
New York.
There are also number of pending
measures to bring new agencies under
civil service.
Another recommendation Of the
commission Is that there be a revision
OF the law Of 1881 which took from
civil service deputy collectors of inter-
nal revenue and deputy marshals, as
there have been abuses.
Commission Cites Instances.
"In numerous instances" the COM
mission points out, deputy collector
appointments have been made to as
Gignments with routine Office duties,
such as those Of typist, stenographer,
bookkeeper and operator Of Office de-
vices, instead Of to responsible duties
in connection with the collection Of
taxes, as contemplated by law"
The report shows that in the fiscal
year ended last June there was an in
crease Of 46,345 positions in the ex-
ecutive branch of the Government, but
only 1855 of these we're in the COM
petitive classified civil service, the
others generally being of emergency
nature.
Would Change Retirement Law.
The commission also recommends
broadening Of the retirement law along
lines that the employees are advocating.
The new plan would provide:
Optional retirement at so, after 80
years Of service, with either Govern
nnent or employe exercising this option.
Allowing annuitants to take reduced
pension In order, in case of death, that
payments be continued to q surviving
dependent.
Voluntary increase in contributions
10 the retirement fund to raise the
scale Of retirement benefits
The commission also reiterates its
recommendation for classification Of
Geld employees.
The report details the tremendous
increase in the work of the commits
sion, about ten times as many apph-
cants taking examinations as get posi-
tions. In the past year 466, 1888 persons
were examined and 40,725 appointed.
In 1884 there were 342,758 examined
Tor 27,774 positions.