Evening star., 1937-01-08
BODY
F0RU.S. WORKERS
SOUGHT IN BILL
Representative Mead Intro
duces Measure Proposing
Improved System.
AIMS AT CHANGES
IN CIVIL SERVICE
Development of More Effective
and Economical Administra-
tion Is Urged.

Development Of "a more effective
and economical personnel administra-
tion system" in the Federal Govern
ment and broadening Of the scope of
civil service laws would be provided
for in a bill introduced today by Rep
resentative Mead, Democrat, of New
York, chairman of the Post ONCE
Committee.
The measure would establish a Fed
eral Personnel Council, to be headed
by the president of the Civil Service
Commission and composed of heads of
executive departments.
1t would extend the civil service
laws to embrace poStmasters and per-
NIT Government agencies in the
States to utilize Civil Service Com
mission services in developing and
operating the merit system.
Under the legislation, the appoint.
ment and promotion of employees
would be based strictly on merit and
efficiency"
Make Up of Council.
The proposed Federal Personnel
Council would consist of the director
of the Budget Bureau, chairman Of
the Interstate Commerce Commission,
administrator Of veterans affairs,
! governor of the Farm Credit Admin
lstration, chairman of the Social Sc
curity Board and heads Of such estab-
lshments as the President may desig-
nate by executive order, with a Civil
Service employe from each of these
executive agencies to be named by the
head thereof.
The Mead bill declares it is the
policy of Congress to extend the
classification act to include those in
the field service "as nearly and as
soon as the conditions of good admin
istration will warrant" To this end
the new council would be given the
SPECIFIC duty of making a survey Of
the duties and compensation of all
positions and groups of positions in
the executive branch of the Federal
Government. whether or not they are
now subject to the classification act.
and within six months report to Con.
gress. through the President. recon-
mendations for extension and further
amendment of the classification act.
Probation Period.
Regarding appointments and pro.
motions. the bill provides that here.
after appointments under the classi.
ned civil service shall be for a six.
month period Of probation. The serv.
ice will end automatically unless before
the expiration of the probationary
period the appropriate appointing au-
thority has certified to the Civil Serv-
ice Commission that the appointee is
qualified and fit to receive permanent
appointment.
To improve the morale of civil serv-
ice workers and to develop the merit
system governing all promotions, the
| executive secretary and personnel off,
Ger of the new council are required
within Is days to file with the chair.
man a sworn statement that they will
not appoint or promote any employe
on any other basis than that of merit
or efficiency and in no case will they
permit any personal or political IA
voritism to influence their action.
Proof Of failure to keep this pledge
would result in the removal from office
Of these offenders.
Against "Spoils System"
Plans for war on the evils Of the
'spoils system" in civil service we're
presented by Robert L. johnson, presi-
dent Of the National Civil Service Re-
form League, to the Washington
Junior Board of Commerce yesterday
at its weekly luncheon at the Lee
House.
BY gaining the support of the press
and establishing a speaking bureau,
by influencing young college men and
women to go into public service and
by selling the idea to business that
use of the merit system is good busi-
ness and a tax-Saving policy, the
league hopes to enlist public backing.
he stated.
At present 100000 of the 100000
public employees in this country hold
their jobs because they have "rung the
right doorbells" or gotten out the
vote" on election Gay, and it is this
condition which the seague aims to
eradicate, johnson said.
1T is up to the business men of this
country to back our fight on lew
standards in civil service personnel"
he added, emphasizing the important
role to be played by younger men in
reforming present conditions.