Evening star., 1940-01-17
N.F.F.E. Asks
Promotion Fund
Be Restored
Steward Protests
To Congressman on
Personnel Economies

The personnel economies outlined
by the House Appropriations Com
mittee yesterday in the report ac-
companying the independent Offices
bill were described as cause for "sin-
cere regret to all believers in better
public service" in letters sent to-
day to all members of Congress by
Luther @. Steward, president of the
National Federation Of Federal EN-
ployes. He asked that the matter
be reconsidered.
The committee stated that no
new" funds would be allowed for
promotions; set limit of $3,901 900
on the amount that might be ex-
pended for this purpose from saw
ings the agencies are able to make in
their regular appropriations; rec
commended" that pay raises be al
lowed only in cases where employees
earning less than 5000 have not
had an advance in three years and
those getting more than that figure
have gone five years without an in
crease, and refused to appropriate
about 100000 to build up personnel
administration machinery.
"Chaotic Condition" Claimed.
There is a general recognition,
even on the part of the Appropria-
tions Committee, of the chaotic sit
uation in the Federal service due to
the absence of any general promo
ton policy" Mr.. Steward said.
Many employees have received no
increase whatever for more than 10
years.
I'm all Of the military and naval
forces. commissioned, warranted and
enlisted personnel receive periodical
longevity increases. In the postal
service periodical increases are
mandatory for city clerks and car
riers. Small groups in the customs
and immigration service receive pc
riodical statutory increases. For the
remainder of the civilian employees,
both departmental and field, there
is an absence of any promotion sys-
tenn, but for the past IA years Con-
gress has imposed the so-called
average provision, fixing the max
imum Of employees within a grade to
the average of such grade without
making any provision for even
bringing employees up to the aver
age"
The continuance of this condition,
Mr.. Steward said, 80 obviously un-
fair to large proportion of Federal
personnel. involving as 1t does in
some agencies a complete stagna-
ton Of promotion" emphasizes the
necessity Of developing standardized
personnel practices, such as were
contemplated through the proposed
expansion Of personnel machinery.
Personnel Units Refused.
That the committee would deny
funds for promotions had been
made known a week ago, but the
elimination of the personnel funds,
which were to permit the depart
ments and principal independent
agncies to build up personnel units,
was unexpected. This project is
backed by President Roosevelt, and
while the committee refused money
for it in the closing days of the last
session, 1t was thought this was due
to the fact that no hearings had
been held.
In the report with the independent
offices bill, however, the committee
indicated its belief that the present
personnel setup is adequate. It did
allow, however, $25, 900 for the Coun-
Gil of Personnel Administration.
This was half of the amount rec
commended by the Budget Bureau.
1t also granted the Civil Service
Commission $5,0000O0 an increase
Of $750,000 over the current appro-
priation, but $296, 900 under the bud
get figure.