Evening star., 1938-01-16

neither expected nor wanted another Job
created; that his sole interest was in a
vacancy that might exist, and that it was
only on this basis he would consider ac-
cepting an appointment
This piling up Of useless jobs presents a
vivid contrast to the course pursued by
those in charge of the recent -jobless CEN
sus.
The millions of questionnaires We're dis
tributed by the Postal Service, which is
manned by civil service workers and the
compilation was directed by John D. Big
gers. with his emergency staff drawn al
most entirely from civil service registers.
The work was performed speedily and
competently, and at its conclusion Mr..
Biggers reported to President Roosevelt.
that the cost had been kept well within
the allotment of s5,0oO,Oo0 provided for it.
No Career Service.
The corollary of personnel system that
has reserved many higher Offices as le-
ward for party loyalty, or at least made
their giving dependent on party label, has
been the failure to o1levelop career service
generally for ambitious young men and
women in the Government This failure
has been costly. not only serving as bar
rier to the effective type of recruiting that
private industry is able to carry on, but
under ordinary economic conditions tend
ing also to increase turnover
There are EXCEPTIONS of course, such
as are found in the professional and
scientific groups, where a career service
is maintained. But the field is far too
circumscribed
This shortcoming, too, undoubtedly has
been largely responsible for the fact that
even for the lower grades of civil service
there Is not. after all this times an ade-
quate promotion or transfer system.
President Hoover sought to correct this
about eight years ago. when he set up the
Council of Personnel Administration, CON-
posed Of cabinet officers, with the thought
that efficient workmen would be uncov-
cred to fill higher places as vacancies de-
veloped, and that personnel which OBJ
viously was miscast could be turned into
other channels This plan, however, ad-
Vanced little beyond the talking stage, but
once again it is being promoted by the
Civil Service Commission, with the active
cooperation of personnel officers from
other establishments
Issue Is Back.
Now the civil service issue is about to
bob back on the national scene, as Con-
gress turns again to consideration of Pres
ident Roosevelt's program for reorganizing
the Government. The President has rec
commended that civil service be extended
to cover all but those policy-forming po-
sitions at the top and that the numerous
exempt establishments be brought under
the competitive system. Coupled with this
is his recommendation for civil service for
postmasters. The ultimate displ sition of
this program is a matter of doubt. but to
judge from sentiment thus far displayed,
and the record of the Seventy fifth Congress
on personnel matters, little can be expected
The best guess is hodge -podge of COM
promises, and not such good ones at that.
Eight months ago the postmaster bill
was driven through the House by Repre-
sentive Ramspeck, its author. It has since
remained in the Senate Civil Service Com
mittee. Concurrently, the Senate Post
Office Committee has demonstrated its
idea Of postal reform by reporting out
bill that not only would perpetuate the
present spoils practices, but also would
nullify improvements in the selective pro-
cedure that President Roosevelt vas able
to effect by executive order.
In the first session of the Seventh fifth
Congress there were 146 bills introduced to
set up agencies entirely or partly outside of
civil service, and 81 of the former became
law, along with some of the others. This
was in the face of a plank in the Demo-
cratic platform Of 1885, promising to
strengthen civil service "for the protection
Of Government ITSELF"
A New Twist.
The session also witnessed the introduce
ton Of new spoils twist-thae given
to the United States Housing Authority,
which is to spend billions for slum clear
ance. This provided that all positions
paying more than 81, $3.50 should be exempt
from civil service. The reason for that
figure was not given.
Then the special session took up where
the first left of, and the old familiar ex-
emption clause was written into the CROP
control BILL That measure went TO con-
ference to iron out the differences between
Senate and House, but the employment
item was not one of those in dispute
II there is brighter side to the picture
1t is not apparent yet. A militant minority,
drawn from Democrats as well as Republic
cans, will be heard when the time for
showdown comes, but making itself felt
Is something else again. That is the thing
that causes concern for the future to those
whose interest is in good government.
IAN effective executive civil service can-
not be maintained on q an-merit, half
spoils basis" said the Civil Service Com
missions report. That Is more than true
in day when the Government Is assuming
functions that reach 70 deeply into the
nvss oR every individual. ....+