Evening star., 1937-03-07
CURB IS STUDIED
ON CIVIL SERVICE
TEST CANDIDATES
House Committee Aims to
Have Selected Groups
Take Examinations.
THREE PROPOSALS SEEK
TO PUSH MERIT SYSTEM
Oklahoma Legislator Introduces
Bill to Establish Academy
of Public Affairs.
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

Congress is concentrating on build
ing up a great merit system in Gov
ernment service. There are three dis
tinct proposals along this line OUT
standing in projected legislation.
Chairman Ramspeck of the House
Civil Service Committee has been in
conference with President Harry B.
Mitchell of the Civil Service CommiS-
sion and has discussed with other
members of his committee proposed
legislation to attract to the Govern
ment the best-trained youth of the
country These plans look to some
restriction or selectivity for those al
lowed to take a civil service examina.
ton, and to bring the notices of ex-
aminations to a selected list Of poten-
tial candidates. Members Of the
House Appropriations Committee have
questioned closely the representatives
of the Civil Service Commission re-
garding ways in which the number of
those taking examinations can be re-
duced from the present unwieldly pro-
portions and the best talent for the
positions enlisted.
In the Presidents reorganization
bill. now before the Joint Committee
on Government Organization. pro-
visions are included to build up civil
service. The joint committee was
told:
The merit system should be ex-
tended upward. outward and down.
ward to cover all non-policy deter
mining posts, and the civil service sys-
tenn should be reorganized and oppor-
tunities established for a career sys-
tenn attractive to the best talent of
the Nation"
Would Estab abiish Academy.
The third important proposal for
developing merit system is found
in a bill introduced by Representa-
tive Disney. Democrat. of Oklahoma,
for the establishment in the Dist
rict OF Columbia Of public institute
known as the National Academy of
Public Affairs"
The purpose of this academy would
be the training and education of
men and women for diplomatic and
administrative service, with q view
to career service by its graduates. It
might be called a West Point or
Annapolis for civil service-since it
seeks to train for civilian positions.
just as officers are trained for the
Army and Navy.
This bill proposes an initial ap-
preparation of S5,000,000 for setting
up the establishment in the National
Capital, and authorizes whatever is
necessary for annual maintenance. 1t
would accommodate so appointees by
the President. plus one each from the
District of Columbia and Puerto Rico,
two from each state to be appointed
by Senators, and one to be appointed
by each member of the House. This
bill is supported by the National Fed
Grafton of Women's Clubs and by the
National Society. Daughters Of the
American Revolution.
These three proposals look to at
tracing the best type and most salts
1dClOllly yodAS oAAA
women for the routine work. and to
train especially those who would hold
administrative positions.
How to attract into Government
work the best crop of candidates is
being intensively studied by all the
members of the Civil Service Com
mittee, which is also studying how to
make it attractive for them to con-
tinue in the service as career. The
Civil Service Assembly of the United
States and Canada has been working
on this phase Of public administra-
ton. The course pursued by the
California State Personnel Board has
been brought to the attention of the
Civil Service Committee.
Advertising Seen Undesirable.
It has been argued that "advertis-
ing civil service jobs by placards in
post Offices, public libraries and other
public places reaches chiefly loungers
| (See CIVIL SERVICE. Page B-2)