The Washington times., 1937-01-12
u. 5. CAREERS
GOAL UNDER
MERIT PLAN

ment, President Roosevelt today
recommended extension Of the
merit system to include virtually
all permanent jobs in the Govern
ment, with the exceptions Of few
high executive and policy-forming
positions.
The report Of the Presidents
Committee on administrative man
agement transmitted to Congress
today, as it relates to the exten.
sion Of the merit system, Is as
follows:
Democratic government today.
with its greatly increased activities
and responsibilities, requires per.
sonnel Of the highest order-com-
petent, highly trained. loyal, skilled
in their duties by reason of long
experience, and assured of CONT.
nuity and freedom from the dis
rupting influences Of personal or
political patronage. To meet this
requirement the merit principle
should be extended to all except
the highest governmental posi-
tionS. To this course both of the
great political parties are pledged,
Three-Way Extension
The merit system should be ex.
tended in three ways:
Upward to include all perma.
nent positions in the Government
service except a very small num-
Der OF a high executive and policy
forming character;
Outward to include permanent
or continuing positions not now
under civil service, whether To-
Gated in new or emergency agen-
cies or in the older departments;
and
Downward to include skilled
workmen and laborers in the regu-
lar Government service.
This task, however, is by no
means simple and must not be at
tempted with undue haste. To
bring within the classified service
large groups of employees engaged
in activities that are clearly tenn
porary would be unwiSe. Care must
be taken that in the process of
extending the merit system, per-
sonnel standards are not lowered
and that, at the same time, fair
treatment is accorded to those who
have demonstrated their ability
in Government service.
Largest Employer
The United States Government
is the largest single employer of
personnel. With the rapid growth
of the country and the constant
increase in the services rendered
to its citizens by the Government
the number Of Federal employees
has steadily increased This trend
has been equally true Of govern
ments throughout the world.
During the depression the mum
ber of Federal employees markedly
increased because of the require
mentS of the new and emergency
activities undertaken by the Gov
ernment. Most of these new EN-
ployes were recruited outside o1
the civil service system. From
June 30, 1892, to June 80, 1896
the civilian employees of the Exec
utive Branch increased from 578,
231 to 824,259. The number of EN-
rloyes in the classified service In
creased from 467,161 to 498,725
whereas the unclassified employees
increased from 111.070 to 325,534
Policy Posts Excepted
The Civil Service Commission
was not given either the authorit!
or the necessary funds and stat
to enable it to meet the require
ments of Government agencies il
recruiting quickly the large mum
ber Of employees required in tn
emergency period. Now we ar
coming to the end Of the emel
gency period. Some undertaking
will be nquidated and continuing
functions will be placed in tn
regular structure of the Govern
ment. AS these steps are takel
the classified Civil Service Shoult
be extended to the continuing AZ
tivitieS.
In a democracy it is essentis
that the very highest posts b
filled by the Chief Executive wit.
persons who support his program
and policies, and in whom he ha
entire confidence. Only in thi
way is it possible to exercise demo
cratic control over the perms
nent civil service, to avoid tn
dangers of bureaucracy, and t
translate the mandate Of the pei
pie at the polls into responsible
governmental policies. There mus
always be sufficient number @
high policy determining posts q
the disposal Of a newly electe
President to enable him and hi
administration to control the ser
ice. The positions which al
actually policy-determinirg, hov
ever, are relatively few in numbe
Exceptions Listed
They consist, in the main, of tE
heads of executive department
undersecretaries and aSSistar
secretaries, the members of tn
regulatory commissions, the heaC
Of a few Of the large bureaus el
gagged in activities with importar
policy implications, the chief dipl
matte posts. and a limited nrmbC
Of other key positions.
However, the great majority
the highest positions in the Fe
eral service are not policy-d
] termining in character but still r
main n,,ks|la &tA Y,aa,if SxyctaN