The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-10-23
CIVIL SERVICE
FARLEY ASKS
ETHICSC0DE
By ]. EARLE MOSER

CINCINNATI, Oct. 23.-EStab'
lishment of a code of ethics and
standards for Government officials
engaged in personnel adminiStra'
ton was urged here today by
William Brownrigg, executive Off
Ger of the California State Person
mel Board, beore the annual con-
erence of the Civil Service Assembly
of the United States and Canada
Mr.. Brownrigg, acting as chair,
man during discussion Of Off
Gals here on their problems in
supervising Government clerical
staffs, declared personnel admins
traitors should be recognized as a
professional group in the same
category with doctors, lawyers and
accountants.
Pointing out that adminiStra'
tive work involves the public vel
fare and that there is a need for
Standardization of PERSONAL proce.
dure and technique and sound
scientific and common-Sense re-
search in such a field" he urged
that ethical standards be intro
duced for protection Of the science
of public administration" He
added:
"It is argued that the lack OF
recognition of professional sta
tus in public personnel admin
iStratiOn is q milestone around
our neckS. There appears to be
some evidence to support this
contention. In our daily con-
facts with other professional
groups we are at disadvantage
because our science is not now
recognized as being on the same
plane as theirs.
TESTIMONY ACCEPTED
"At times it seems that any
one is qualified to express ex-
pert opinion on any of our tech
meal points Of principles and
procedures in Civil Service court
actions and their testimony is
accepted without challenge.
eff you agree with me that
there is q need for advancement
of our science of public person
mel administration, for standard
iZatiOn of nomenclature and pro-
cedureS, for sound research, for
a high code of ethics, and for
true professional status for our
own administrators and leaders,
then the machinery necessary to
accomplish these ends should be
the subject of serious cOnSidera-
ton by this assembly,"
Discussion of the proper func-
tions for departmental personnel
officers and of the best methods
to be used by personnel agencies
In research activities was SEIZED
uled today, together with gen.
eral meeting in the afternoon to
outline methods of interesting
civic, professional and employee
organizations in advancing the
merit system in the service.
Short to Preside
Oliver c. Short, executive assist
ant of the Census Bureau, was to
preside as chairman. A talk by
Dr.. Leonard D. White, Republican
Civil Service commissioner, on de-
velopment of personnel admin
iStration standards was also
planned.
During the afternoon attacks on
patronage evils were expected
from Gertrude M. McNally, secre-
tary-treasurer of the National
Federation of Federal Employees,
Mrs. Malcolm Mcbride of the
National League of Women Voters,
and James w. Errant, National
Association of Civil Service EN-
plcye Organizations.
The conference yesterday heard
Robert L. Johnson, president of
the National Civil Service Reform
League, outline a plan to enroll
100000 citizens as a committee
to back expansion of the merit
system, and H. Eliot Kaplan, Sec
rotary of the league, urged a sur
vey to determine proper methods
for selecting employees for Govern
ment executive positions.
Charles H. Bland, chairman of
the Canadian Civil Service Com.
mission, and DR.. White revealed
urgent need for courts of appeals
within civil service bodies to pro-
vide justice for discharged en-
ployeS.
Today a banquet was to con-
clude discussions and tomorrow
will see elections of officers for
the assembly's forthcoming year,
plus committee reports and reports
of regional conference activities
from various parts of the United
States and Canada.