Evening star., 1938-10-18
D.
MITCHELL WARNS !
AGAINST PROGRAM
Tells Civil Service Delegates
1t Would Be Looked Upon
as Job Agency.

dS Jul HycIICy.
Warned by Harry B. Mitchell, presi-
dent of the Civil Service Commission,
that 1t was In danger Of being viewed
as job-hunting agency for its men,
bers, the Civil Service Assembly Of the
United States and Canada today, after
vigorous debate, dropped . plan to set
up professional standards for person.
mel administrators and issue . certifi-
cate Of confidence to those Of its mem
bers meeting the requirements.
BY this action the assembly. now in
session at the Wardman Park Hotel.
repudiated . program undertaken at
the annual conference In Ottawa last
year.
Taking q new tack now, the assembly
will cooperate with other professional,
trade and technical groups in estab-
fishing recruiting standards of public
service that will serve as guides for
Federal, State and local governmental
agencies-the source Of the assembly's
membership.
Would Destroy Confidence.
Arguing against the Ottawa pro-
posal. Mr. Mitchell bluntly told the as
sembly that "as soon as the public gets
an idea that this Is an organization for
getting jobs for its members-and that
is how it will be Misrepresentation you
will have destroyed public confidence
in the organization.
Opposition also was voiced by Civil
Service Commissioner Samuel Ordway,
jr., who said the assembly should aban-
don the idea of certification but pro-
other governmental groups on the need
for high standards.
The subject had attracted wide in
terest among the delegates because un-
der the expanded civil service program
laid down by President Roosevelt per-
sonnel units will play an increasingly
important part in government func-
tons.
Under a resolution adopted at Ot-
iowa three grades Of personnel officers
would be created-junior in public per-
sonnel administration, associate In
public personnel administration and
fellow in public personnel administra-
ton. A committee was named to draw
up professional standards for each Of
these, and it was on the report Of this
committee that the assembly acted to-
day. In brief the committee recon-
mended that college training or its
equivalent backed by experience re-
quirements be required in varying de-
grees for the three gradings.
Delegates Cool to Plan.
The committee was composed of
Charles P. Messick Of the New Jersey
Civil Service Commission. Leonard D.
White, former member Of the United
States Civil Service Commission, who
now is on the stan Of the University
of Chicago. and Clarence A. Dykstra,
president Of the University Of Wiscon-
sin. When the report was brought up,
it at once became evident that the
delegates had cooled toward the idea
Louis Brownlow, who headed the com.
mittee which drew up the controver-
sial governmental reorganization plan
said he did not believe 1t was the
function Of private agency to certify
for competency in the public service,
and he objected also to the divisions
of relative competence proposed.
Eliot Kaplan, executive secretary Of
the National Civil Service Reform
League, also spoke in opposition -
did several other members OF the A.
sembly.
When q vote was taken on the reso-
luton to ditch the plan. but few voices
were raised in opposition.
Mr.. Messick told the assembly yes
terday afternoon that but few govern
mental jurisdictions are doing an ef-
fective Job in personnel management,
placing the number at perhaps 80 or
10 out Of total Of l75,000.
Personnel Society to Meet.
Many of the delegates to the assem-
bly,, who are drawn from Federal,
State and municipal governments, are
expected tonight to participate in the
meeting of the Society for Personnel
Administration at the Government
Auditorium. Opening at 8 o'clock for
q round table on the status and i'm
portance Of the merit system in gov
ernment, the speakers will be Or. Jo-
seph M. M. Gray, chancellor of Ameri-
can University; Charles H. Bland,
president of the assembly, who is
chairman of the Civil Service Com
mission of Canada, and G. Lyle Bels-
ley, director of the assembly.
Tho ciui1 enrujco rorn js sinners uho
are hosts to the meeting, will hold a
reception and tea in honor OF Mr.
Bland at $50 tomorrow afternoon at
the home of Commissioner and Mrs.
Samuel II OrdVay ir