Evening star., 1938-08-07
FOUNDAT|0NSET
FOR CIVIL SERVICE
PERSONNEL PLAN
Administrative Program Is
Mapped Under Order
of President.
SELECTION OF OFFICERS
TOBE MADE WITH CARE
Second. Glass Postmasters to Be
Required to Pass Written
Tests.


President Roosevelt's civil service re-
form program. the Civil Service Com
mission announced yesterday that the
groundwork had been laid for the COM
prehensive personnel administration
program that is to be an important
feature OF the Presidents plan.
In its statement. the commission
sketched the methods to be followed in
setting up the personnel divisions that
are to be established in every executive
agency. and emphasized that extreme
care is to be exercised in selecting
officers to head these units.
At the same time it was made known
that the commission, in carrying out
the new law putting postmasters Of
first, second and third class under
civil service, has decided to require
applicants for second-class Offices to
pass a written examination. 1t will
be the first time that this has been
done, candidates heretofore being sub
Ject to test that took in only their
qualifications as to education, business
experience and character.
Highly Important Cogs.
Under the Presidents program. pro-
mulgated June 25 effective next Feb
ruary l, the personnel officers in the
several units are to be highly impor-
tant cogs in the administrative ma
chinery. Their major functions will
include appointment, assignment,
service rating and training of en-
ployes-subject to the direction of the
heads of the establishments-liais
work with the Civil Service Commits
sion and budget officer, and service on
the revamped Council of Personnel
Administration, which is to be the
watchdog" Of civil service.
AS an aid to executive heads
charged with responsible and success
full operation of departments and
agencies" the commission said, "the
divisions contemplated in the Presi-
dents orders, when properly organized,
financed and stated, and supported by
line executives, will make civil service
administration, the civil service law
itself and the Civil Service Commits
civil ACdA W CAlNlCAw w.
Grafton and executive administration.
"As an aid to employees in making
their work in the Federal service a
competitive career, in giving them op-
portunity for competitive advance
ment, in af1ording them definite
means for the presentation and settle
ment Of grievances, such divisions,
when properly organized, financed and
stated, and supported by employe
groups, will be invaluable"
Preparing to Comply.
The commission said that the vari-
ols agencies are being urged to set up
their personnel units-which generally
entails expansion of existing func-
tions-as soon as possible. The COM
mission itself is allocating the posi-
tions OF director of personnel to their
appropriate grades. and is preparing
tn comply with that portion of the
Presidents order which prescribes for
filling these posts either through open
competitive examination or through
nom competitive examination of off,
GERS or employees who may be promoted,
reassigned or transferred to the posi-
tions on recommendation by their SUI
perior officers when they meet the re-
ouirements Of eligibility. Persons not
now in Government service may take
the open competitive tests, and the
commission said it was especially de-
sired that all personnel workers take
the non competitive tests
The commission set as its first
requisite for personnel officer "a high
order of administrative ability" These
officers. it was added, must under
stand that the merit system is both
impartial and flexible and that direc-
tors of personnel must be trustees of
personnel administration both for
their agencies and for the legal system
under which they operate"
In deciding to require second-cla
postmasters to take a written test as
well as meet present requirements, the
commission Is conforming to a plan
announced some time ago of mate
rally Tightening procedure for select
Ing postmasters now that they are to
BE- named for life. Tie written test is
already required in third and fourth
class ofhces. There are 3,404 second
class ofiices; they are in the smaller
cities.