The Washington times., 1936-12-23

ORGANIZATIONS SnOul0 contact Une "ElleE
in the editorial room by 5:15 p. M, or
should phone DI. 1000, Branch 21O.
Subjected to considerable criti.
cism during the past for al
legedly favoring college diplo-
mas over actual experience for
entrance requirements to Govern
ment service, the Civil Service
Commission has taken steps to
forestall any further charges on
the subject.
Where possible in examina'
tions, the commission is allow
ing the applicant to substitute
one year of experience in lieu
of a year of collegiate training,
thus eliminating the arbitrary
value given diplomas in some
past instances that automatically
barred "self made" persons from
competition.
A recent example is the test
announced Monday for "infor.
national service representatives"
at the Social Security Board,
which will set up a register OF
eligibles to fill press relations
jobs. with the board and prob
ably will be drawn against by
other agencies as they find need
for such folk.
In the quiz, four years Of col
lege are necessary for all, and
the lowest rank, assistant rep
resentatives," must also have put
in two years of journalistic and
editing work. The announcement
says, however:
Applicants may substitute
for the prescribed education,
year for year, additional ex-
perience Of the general type
described above, of quality and
responsibility suitable to the
grade"
Thus, six years Of experience
are held equal to four of col
lege and two of actual work
which should suit both sides OF
the picture.
Even in such technical exams as
those for various types Of profes-
sional engineers the Commission
has endeavored to reduce empha-
sis on academic training where 1t
might block a desirable employe.
A survey of announcements dur
ing 1885 and the current year
shows the "year for year" privi'
lege also accorded to welding engi-
neers and architects. Telephone
engineers, highway engineers and
certain other types Of job required
two years of college with substitu'
tion of experience allowed for the
missing two years. Engineering
craftsmen required only a high
school education and even here
they were allowed to produce six
months of experience for each
year of missed school.
In general, the tests held strict
ly to the diploma requirement were
those expected to attract only
young men, such as straight 'ju'
nior" engineers. In connection
with the subject Commissioner
Mitchell recently declared:
"We are now working on plans
to admit engineers of the higher
grades even though they have
had no collegiate experience, If
we find that they have had the
required experience. Lawyers
have always been admitted to
the Government service upon
their admission to the bar,
whether they have a law degree
or not"
A majority of Internal Reve-
nue'S clerks will gather today at
3:45 p. m. in their buildings main
lobby to hear the Internal Revenue
Orchestra lead a program which
will include choral singing. The
program as announced:
National Emblem March,"
"Stars and Stripes Forever" I"
America" (chorus). christmas
Bells" "Come All Ye Faithful"
(chorus), "Silent Night" (chorus) ,
"Hark the Angels Sing" (chorus), f,
and "The Star-Spanagled Banner" !"
Among guests will be Treasury
Administrative Assistant w. H. Nc
Reynolds, Internal Revenue Com
missioner Guy T. Helvering, Mil
ton E. Carter, assistant to the Com
missioner; Eldon P. King, special
deputy commissioner; and Deputy
Commissioners Charles T. Russell,
George j. Schoeneman, D. Spencer
Bliss and Stewart Berkshire.
Commissioner Helvering a d.
dressed the following greeting to
all Internal Revenuers with the
current issue of the Bureaus News
Letter:
Legislation enacted during
the year now drawing to close
has brought to the Bureau new
problems, increased responsible
ties and added duties. We can
successfully meet these new con-
.ditiOns by a continuance of the
loyal cooperation which has been
accorded me in the past by every
branch of the Internal Revenue
Service.
Therefore, wish to express
to the entire Service my cor
dial appreciation Of that COOP
Grafton, and to extend to each
emplOye my best wishes for a
Merry Christmas and Happy
New Year."
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