Evening star., 1941-11-14
Price Reveals
Plan for State
Merit System
Legislative Council
Drafts Proposal for
Virginia Workers
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
RICHMOND, Va, Nov 14-Gov
Price made public today recon-
mendations of the Virginia Ad-
visory Legislative Council for the
establishment of personnel sys-
TEN designed to insure that the ap-
pointment, tenure and promotion
of State employees be based upon
merit
The governor. assisted by per-
SOnnel director and an advisory
committee, and the department
heads would administer the sys-
tenn. for which the sum of s16,400
would be appropriated each year of
the next biennium.
In submitting its recommended
tiOnS for transmission to the Cen
eral Assembly, the council followed
in principle proposals placed before
the 1910 Legislature. with somewhat
more explicit provisions concerning
the relations between the governor
and department heads.
Miller Heads Committee.
The proposed legislation, affect
ing large portion of the 10000
State workers who draw more than
$18.000,000 a year in salaries, was
drafted by council committee
headed by Delegate Francis Pick
ems Miller of Fairfax.
The recommendation were placed
before the Governor by Delegate
John B. Spiers of Radford. chair
man of the council. after its ap-
proval at meeting here last week.
In deciding for "a positive per-
sonnel program under the leader
ship of the chief executive and the
department heads" in preference to
civil service-policing type of plan,
the council recommended: :
l. Appointment, promotion and
tenure in the administrative depart
! mentS on the basis of merit.
2. The aScertainment of relative
merit by comparison of qualifica-
tions. Written examinations NAV
be used but are not prescribed by
/ the bill. Records of training and
| experience also may be used.
3. General administration by the
Governor and department heads.
4. That the Governor have gen.
eral supervision of the methods used
but that he. may exercise no au-
thorlty in connection with the ap-
polntment, promotion or tenure of
particular individuals. except where
the Governor is the appointing au-
thoritv.
Director of Personnel.
5. That the Governor be assisted
by director of personnel and by an
advisory committee.
6. That under authority of the
Governor the director of personnel
establish and keep a roster of State
employees, classification plan, a
compensation plan, a system of
service ratings and a file of applica-
tions.
7. That agency personnel officers
establish and maintain for their de-
partments rosters of employees, pro-
motion and employment lists and
such methods of personnel admin
lstratlon as receive the approval of
the Governor.
/ 8. That agency personnel officers
may have such assistance from the
director of personnel as becomes
( necessary.
9. That essential personnel data
be kept and reported to the General
( Assembly.
The council pointed out that the
departments of health and public
welfare, the Commission for the
Blind and the Unemployment Com
pensatiOn Commission, in line with
Federal requirements, already had
established personnel officers, merit
system supervisors and merit system
councils, mot merely for personnel
administration but for policing
functions"