Evening star., 1941-09-03
All Federal Jobs
Geared 10 Defense,
N. F.F. {. Is Told
Mrs. MeMiIIin Speoks,
Interugeney Transfer
Liberalization Sought
BY J. A. FOX,
: Star staff Correspondent.


Government workers were told to-
day that this is no time for 'busi-
ness as usual it is a time for in
dividual conservation to whatever
duties are assigned to us as civilian
soldiers of defense"
The admonition came from Com
missioner Lucille Foster McMillin of
the Civil Service Commission, who
emphasized to 200 delegates at the
convention of the National Fedora
ton of Federal Employees that "a
unique defense problem" faces the
American people.
The current turbulence Is differ
ent from any other national emer-
gencv that we have faced" she said.
I'm the Revolutionary War, there
was an immediate tangible problem
OF a Colonial people seeking inde-
pendence, In the other wars that
followed there was a sharp clash of
clear issues. Today, our country has
been faced with the necessity of
preparing for eventualities without
being able to put the national
finger, so to speak, at all times on
what such eventualities might be.
The result has been that many of
our people have not been aroused
fully to the gravity of the hour. In
such a situation, there is need for
bringing clearly before the employees
of the Federal Government the i'm
portance of the work they are do
ing and the responsibility of work.
ing for tn National program"
Speaking at the outset of a ses-
sion that found the delegates resum-
ing work on the mass of resolutions
dropped into the convention hopper,
Mrs. McMillin devoted most of her
address to defense matters in their
relation to Federal employment.
Cites Concentration of Workers.
A problem she cited in this con-
nection is occasioned by the con-
centration of thousands of Federal
workers in localities affected by
defense projects, and the commits
sioner, recalling the publicity given
to conditions in Washington, re-
marked parenthetically that this
is not a problem peculiar to Wash
ington."
The great majority of new de-
fense employees have been appointed
outside of the District of Colum-
bia," Commissioner McMillin con-
tinued. The increase in personnel
In Washington since June, 1910,
has been slightly more than $4,000;
outside the District of Columbia,
the increase has been more than
300, 900. Whenever thousands of
new employees are added, there are
problems of housing and feeding
workers and some of these prob
lens cannot be worked out over
night. Naturally, we have heard
and will hear more about working
conditions in Washington than
elsewhere. Anything that happens
in Washington excites more COM
ment than if it occurred in some
less s-discussed locality.
Therefore we may expect to
continue to see in the press stories
of war workers in Washington
and their trials and tribulations
just as we read about them 20
years ago. The fact is that the
average Washington worker is get
ting along to his own satisfaction.
At the same time, he is doing a
good job for the Government under
very heavy defense pressure"
Urges Contacts With SeIectees.
Commissioner McMillin urged all
Federal workers, especially those
in supervisory capacities, to take
more interest in their colleagues
who are called into military serv-
ice to bolster their morale. Particu-
larly, she emphasized, should these
persons be advised of their legal
right to unemployment with un-
disturbed seniority, when their mil
itary service is over. Further, she
continued during their absence,
the personnel Of the employing Of
fee should maintain a regular
friendly contact with them to let
them know that they are not for
gotten, and when they are ready
to come back, the employing office
itself should take the initiative in
restoring them to comparable posi-
tions to the ones formerly occu-
pied"
Starting to work yesterday on
resolutions, the delegates voted for
plan to facilitate interagency
transfers after hearing widespread
complaints about the difficulties
that now attend the efforts of per-
sonnel to go from one position to
another. even though a desirable
promotion is involved.
The proposal, advanced by the
Minnesota State Federation, pro-
vides for establishment by the Civil
Service Commission of a transfer
list In which employees desiring to
shift places could register their
qualifications. The commission then
would certify them for vacancies
they could fill. A resolution of like
import from the federation local In
Little Rock, Ark. called on the COM
mission to fill vacancies wherever
possible by transfers instead OF
holding examinations to get ehgi-
bles.
Approval System Cited.
Delegates said one of the prin.
cipal stumbling blocks to trans
fers is the requirement that they
be approved by the supervisory off
Ger of the agency from which the
employe desires to change. This
regulation was designed to prevent
the exodus of workers from defense
jobs to other places where employ
ment conditions were more attrac.
tive, but a Milwaukee local pro-
testing against this system said In
some cases it actually was "detri-
ment" to defense activities, admin
istrative officers often being unwill-
ing to lost efficient workers by
transfer.
The Civil Service Commission al
present has an interdepartmenta
placement register on which the
qualifications of all employees are