Evening star., 1938-01-07
FUNDS INCREASED
FOR CIVIL SERVICE
$242,500 Extra Reported in
Bill After Record Ex-
animation Year.
By WILL p. KENNEDY.


Because Civil Service Commission
duties have broken all records during
the past year, the Independent Offices
appropriation bill reported to the
House yesterday carries an increase
Of $242,50O in an effort to bring the
duties up to date.
During the current fiscal year 843,-
887 persons have been examined for
the Federal merit system, which Is
approximately one-third more than IN
the previous high record, the war year
Of 1918, when 617,894 persons were
examined. In one railway mail service
examination 201 900 persons applied,
10000 persons we're examined. from
which the commission got 100000
eligibles, while there were only 20
vacancies and probably only 1000 dur
ing the life of the list.
Something like $500 different types
Of examination are held, but this num-
Der is being reduced.
There are some 800 registers of eligi-
bles in the central Office in Washing
ton and something like 2,700 registers
In the field service While the Presi-
dent has requested that registers be
renewed when they are three years
old and the commission is eager to
comply, most of the registers are four
years old and some of them seven years
old, the House Committee on Appro-
priations was told by the civil service
officials. The officials estimated that
they should have s7,o00,0OO to do this
work properly, and that it would save
the taxpayers money. The bill gives
them an increase of $4,000 in the
central Office and $80l70 in the field
service.
Fee Proposal Revived.
The discussion OF this subject In
the hearings led to renewal of the
suggestion that fee be charged appli-
cants for an examination and the ex-
periences of New York City were
quoted, but it seemed pretty general
conclusion that the Federal Govern
ment would not adopt such plan.
The $242,500 increase in the bill
now before the House is spread over
the entire work of the commission.
While the examining function is an
important one, Chairman Woodrum Of
the committee sponsoring the bill en-
phasized a number of other respon-
sibilities imposed on the commission
by Congress. Among these is admin
istration of the Classification Act. In
recent years the flux of Government
activities has occasioned wholesale re-
organization within many of the older
departments and has resulted in the
creation of many new branches Of the
service which require organization
from the ground up. Many of the So
called emergency agencies have been
brought under the Classification Act.
Inquiries by Representative Dirk
sen. Republican, Of Illinois disclosed
that there has been little dimunition
of the civil service force in Washing
ton, which in September numbered
11,6O8. Kenneth c. Vipond, assistant
chief examiner, stated that there are
now 532,073 in the classified civil
service and 3O9,591 unclassified.
Questioned by Representative Wig
ellsworth, Republican, Of Massachu-
sets regarding examinations in the
legal group. Mr.. Vipond recalled that
there are only three Offices subject to
the Civil Service Act and rules. The
last attorney examination was three
years ago for the Federal Trade Com
mission. About five years ago there
was one of the Veterans Administra-
ton and six or seven years ago for the |
Interstate Commerce Commission.
The salaries of the examiners run |
from $4,000 up to $4,000 and they |
examine applicants for positions that |
pay up to $500. The commission
asked for five additional examiners
at = $4,000 salary. three at $4,000 |
and seven for incidental work at
$500.
The new positions for the Civil
Service Commissian total 108, the
largest number being 80 junior clerks,
21 senior typists and IA junior
stenographers.