The Washington times., 1935-11-19
D. T.. RESIDENTS
INU. 5. JOBS
DECREASE
Nv ]. EARLE MOsER

uIluGx LLlC PCuC1 ~ bCANASC 10 BA0A
ually being cut down, a compari'
son Of Civil Service figures reveals.
Entitled by statute to less than
$50 positions, the District Of Co.
lumbia in 1929 had 12,788 Wash
ingtonians holding permanent, ap
portioned posts. Five years later,
on June 80, 1884, the figure had
dropped to 9,614 and last Friday
it was announced as 1926.
This trend, which also shows q
steady decrease for the few States
that are over their quota, will
eventually bring all localities
within their prescribed limits, Of.
1icials say. unless another emer.
gency similar to the World War
develops.
It was the war period that
pushed the District, Maryland and
Virginia far in excess. People
Scorned Government jobs due to
high salaries Of outside" indus
try, and the Civil Service Commits
sion was forced to give examina.
tionS morning and evening, every
day. for a lengthy period before
sufficient personnel was obtained.
The present constant decrease
is accomplished by refusal to ap
point eligibleS from localities in
excess. Death, retirement and
other types of separation then
takes care Of the reduction.
Few officials actually believe in
the apportionment system, one at
Civil Service Commission express
ing the belief that it should be
abolished in favor of appoint
mentS on a straight merit basis,
1naSmuch as the Government is
to washington as large industry Is
to other cities, it is felt the Situa,
ton might well be placed on the
platform Of one or more of the
large organizations. Thus far it
has been ignored.
Four tests have been announced
by the Civil Service Commission.
Closing December are quizzeS
for associate and assistant metal.
lurgists (recovery and PHYSICAL, 4,
$4,000 and $4,000, principal medi.
cal officer, $500, with the In.
dian Service of Interior, and di.
rectors, division of maternal and
child health and crippled chill
dren'S division of the Children'S
Bureau, Department Of Labor,
$500. A test for farm agent, In.
dian field service, Interior, pay
ing $1,000, will close December 81.
High school graduates for the
latter test need not apply, how.
ever, unless they have also had
three years Of college study.
All General Accounting Office
employees have been invited to a
get-together and free-for-al social
tomorrow in the mems gymnasium
at the Y. M. c. A., Eighteenth and
G Sts. N. W., beginning at 9 p. m.
Jacob Milwit, committee chair
man, has announced a five-act
floor show, prize waltz, cards and
other features. The affair is i'll
formal and is the Gecond of a
series being sponsored oy Lodge 8
Of the A. F. G. E.
Assisting in the reception will
be the newly formed G. A. o. So
cial and entertainment group,
headed by Dorothy Ellsworth. Sup
porting her are Ira Simpson,
Mackie Welch, Dorothy Wren,
Dorothy George, Allie Hewitt, Co
rallee Rasmussen, Doris Ffnke,
Charlotte MoSer, a-guerite
Smith, Maryle Browne, Margaret
Shumac, Lillian Ruth and Verna
Parsons.
Paul Strachan. recently quoted
in this column, asks that his pro
gram for betterment of employe
conditions be clarified slightly.
He writes:
Il did not predict that social
security will develop into a perma-
nent department of public works
but rather a department Of public
welfare D.. am sure this will re-
suit after two or three years Of
actual operation"
''I wish to clarity the statement
set forth in that story regarding
classification. I believe extension
of the merit system to be impor-
tant, but realize that doubtless the
first step would have to be a clas-
sification of all those now without
status. So, from practical stand
point, I insist that Classification Is
the paramount issue, both to those
who have status and to those who
have temporary and non-statuS
appointments. I reiterate my be.
lief that employees will achieve
definite advancement ONLY by
uniting behind one or two major
issues at a time. This is no time
to shoot bird seed, when siege
gun is imperative"
Headquarters Of the A. F. q. E,
have announced appointment of
Charles H. WhitSey, president Of
Public Welfare Lodge SO and cor
responding secretary of the D. c.
Department, as executive assistant
to President Babcock. He joins
Lee Somers, former newspaper
man, and Col. Charles I. Stengle,
former Representative. in this ca
pacity.
Mr.. Whitsey, a World War vet
eran, was chief registrar with the
District of Columbia welfare or
ganization before his appointment
to federation headquarters. Born
in Cleveland. he has resided in
Washington for approximately II