The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1937-02-18
Sponsored by League of Wo-
men Voters-Endorsed
BY American Legion
URGES BILL PASSAGE
Provides Opportunity Fol-
Career In Governmental
Service

o. ]. Jerde, Of the State Teach
ers College, st. Cloud, in an edu-
cational discourse on the Civil Ser
vice law, in which he compared the
laws of this country with those OF
Great Britain, stated to the MEM
bers Of the League Of Women Vot-
ers and the American Legion, that
all present were interested in Min
nesota particularly as they are bat
thing in the legislature for the in
PRODUCTION Of bill for civil service
for all state employees. Mr.. Jerde
spoke in the Bryant Library on
this subject Monday evening.
The bill for Civil Service, which
Mr.. Jerde discussed is sponsored
by the League Of Women Voters
and endorsed by the American Le-
gion, and was introduced as House
File SO.
After an explanation Of the mer.
its Of Great Britain's Civil Service
law, Mr.. Jerde gave an outline OF
necessary requirements for a good
civil service law. First, induction
into service and under what condi-
tons a person may be eligible, such
as physical and mental. Given
those qualifications person would
be eligible. Second, after induction
into service comes the probation
period, which he believed as most
important OF all phases Of civil ser
vice. In this bill the probation per-
iod Is six months, during which
time the employee may be dismissed
If not satisfactory. Following this
comes the question of promotions
and eligibility to positions. This
latter question has troubled the
Civil Service Commission a great
deal.
He stated that the British Civil
Service is a model, one OF the lin
est in existence, although some
parts may not be good or would
not work in this country. Cities In
the United States have made great
er progress in civil service than
have the states, and although the
Federal law is good, there Is much
to be done along the line of Inn
provement.
Great Britain divides it's service
into three large groups. The first
includes clerks. ETC., the second
bureau directors and third, execu-
tives and administrators in charge
of departments and bureaus OF
great responsibility. No one can at
tain a position in the highest
bracket without a college education,
and this rule, with few exceptions,
is definitely adhered to. There are
a few self-made men who have at
tanned positions in that bracket.
The examinations are very difficult.
In explanation of the one in three
rule in vogue in this country, he
stated that the person who has the
best political qualification would
get the appointment-and Is more
Of a political patronage act than
civil service. This Is one of the
worst features of the civil service
in this country, and it's elimination
would greatly improve the United
States service.
Mr.. Jerde stated that civil service
kills considerable politics, but not
entirely as political appointments
are die hards and it will be hard
to take them away. He explained
the workings Of the st. Cloud civil
service and showed the merits Of
that system. He stated that at pre-
sent examinations are Of eighth
grade calibre and that he believed
they should be improved to high
school quality and even greater in
time. At the present time there is
no qualification for elective offices
and this, he believed, should be cor
rected.
Civil service with long tenure Is
where training counts, and this
brings to attention the matter OF
denotions, he said. There Is time
In life when a man should go down.
Sometimes it Is at the age Of 80,
sometimes the age of 40. This needs
strict regulations. AIN people should
not retire at the same age. It would
not be right to replace the 55-year
old with the twenty-five year-old,
in all cases He showed his reason
for this statement by citing Oliver
Wendell Holmes, who at 80 rend-
n "a