Evening star., 1941-01-13
Closer Check
On Federal
Hiring Urged
Civil Service Agency
Points to Danger
Of Fifth CoIumnists

This country "has paid entirely
too little attention" to the charac-
ter of men and women employed
in Federal agencies in the past, and
still is remiss in this particular, the
Civil Service Commission today told
the President.
The statement was made in the
annual report in which the COM
mission outlined the efforts that are
being made to strengthen the in
vestigative service in connection with
recruiting for defense activities
which are adding approximately
100000 employees.
Pointing to the dangers of in
filtration Of fifth columnists into the
agencies and departments, the re-
port said that theoretically. the re-
sponsibility for passing on the char
acter as well as the abilities of
applicants for Federal service has
rested with the Civil Service Com
mission. AS a practical matter, it
has never been provided with any
where near adequate personnel to
carry on this all-important work.
The commission sincerely believes
that in this respect the country has
been pennywise and pound foolish"
1t was explained that at the out
set of the new year the commission
expected to have approximately $50
investigators at work, and was also
getting assistance from the F. B. I.
and other investigative agencies of
the Government
More Inquiries Made.
"As a result" the report contin-
ued, applicants for many key de-
fense positions are now being inves-
tigated where formerly it was i'm
possible. In all frankness, however,
the commission must report that
there are still many key defense
positions to which persons are being
certified without such an investi-
cation.
I'VE strongly urge that one of the
best investments the Nation can
make is to enable the commission
to build up its investigative staff
to the point where persons in all
defense positions are investigated
either before or Immediately after
they are placed on the job"
1t was added that only persons
OF "unquestioned loyalty" should be
brought into the service.
The report laid emphasis on the
commissions part in the defense
program
The recruiting drive had filled
100000 positions in War and Navy
alone in November, the commission
said, and 10000 more for Govern
ment positions are to be provided
by July. Explaining that it was
difficult to obtain qualified personnel
for many of the defense jobs, the
commission expressed the opinion
that increasing emphasis will be laid
on the training program conducted
by the Once of Education and
other agencies to meet this need.
Extensions Proposed.
The commission this year had but
few legislative recommendation but
expressed the hope that positions
outside of civil service will be
brought in as quickly as possible.
in conformity with the Ramspeck
Civil Service Extension Act.
Noting that the Retirement Act
had now passed its goth year, the
commission said that in operation
the legislation had justified the
claims that had been advanced as
to its value when it was first con-
sidered. 1t was said, too, that wide
spread advantage is being taken of
the retirement amendment passed
in 1889, which permits employees
to increase annuity benefits by con-
tributing larger portion of their
pay to the retirement fund. The
commission renewed the suggestion
that the law be changed to permit
optional retirement at age of so
after 80 years service. The report
showed 6,267 annuitants were added
to the rolls in the last fiscal year,
about 80 per cent as the result of
disability. AS of June 80, annuitants
totaled 62,O27.