Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-28
Resentment Threatens
Civil Service Gains,
Ramspeck Warns
Asks Businessmen to Aid
Committees Probe in
Radio Forum Talk

Radio Forum Talk
Public resentment will sweep aside
the civil service gains Of recent
years unless there is improvement
in Government personnel practices,
Representative Ramspeck, Democrat,
of Georgia, chairman of the House
Civil Service Committee. said last
night in talk in the National Radio
Forum.
The forum, a blue network fea-
ture, is arranged by The Star and
broadcast locally through WMAL.
MI. RamSpeck spoke in connec-
ton with the personnel inquiry soon
to be undertaken by his committee.
and introduced billiard B. Lasseter,
who will direct the investigation.
The latter, in turn, Sketched his
views OF the prospective task and
OF the accomplishments to be sought.
Asks Public's Aid.
At the outset of his speech Mr..
Ramspeck pointed to the growth of
the Federal establishment, which
now numbers approximately 5000. 900
persons, with a payroll of S6,000,OOO,-
600, and emphasized that this
demonstrates the need for the in
quiry to determine if retrenchment
Is possible.
He urged those who have knowl-
edge of practices that need correct
ing to bring them to the commit
tees attention.
Businessmen and others who
have dealt with Government
agencies can render a patriotic serv-
ice by advising the committee of
any facts showing ineficiency or
overstaffing, he said. Il appeal to
all of our citizens to help the COM
mittee with any information they
may have. The name of persons
furnishing information will not be
used without their permission"
Normal Procedure Suspended
Referring to conditions surround
Ing this growth, he continued
Frankly, I have been disturbed
lately by some Of the things happen
ing here and elsewhere in reference
to the public service. If conditions
are not improved, I have fears that
the resentment of the people will
sweep aside the merit system and
the improvements We have made in
the Government regarding person
mel policies"
Explaining that normal civil Serv-
Ice procedure has been suspended
in recent months to speed recruit
ing, Mr.. Ramspeck said that few ex-
aminations have been held, appli-
cants for administrative and execu-
tive positions having been rated by
the Civil Service Commission solely
on education and experience.
Appointments have been made |
for the duration of the war and
the appointees will not attain civil |
service status" he continued. The |
commission does endeavor to have
the best qualified applicant selected |
and has rejected many applicants, |
but the departments and agencies, |
during the period of rapid expan-
sion incident to the war, have had |
wide latitude in making selections. |
Cites Misuses.
THE departments and agencies
have also been permitted to make
grade promotions without the ap-
prevail of the Civil Service Com
mission.
This new procedure was adopted
to speed the employment of persons
needed in the war effort I am afraid
that many cases exist where advan-
tsge has been taken of this new
procedure by officials. 1t has made
easier the employment of relatives,
friends, former business associates
and chums of college days-even
though those appointed were often
not the best qualified persons OBJ
tainable. Many competent men and
women, seeking an opportunity to
serve their Government in its hour
of emergency, have sought posi-
tons in vain-While they have seen
others, less qualified, get these
places at good salaries, because of |
some connection with an Official, not |
because of ability.
Seek to Boost Quality.
These people, so appointed, in |
many instances have not had the |
first essential for public service,
which is the ability to get along with
the public, nor have they remem-
bered that all Federal employees owe |
courtesy and consideration to each |
citizen. There has arisen much re-
sentiment in the country over many |
of the appointments made in the |
manner I have described. Much of |
this resentment has been directed |
at the civil service system-partly, |
at least, because the changed meth !
DDS have not been understood"
The object Of the investigation,
Mr.. Ramspeck concluded, will be to
improve the quality Of public sery-
ice and Ito reduce costs and the
number employed"
Mr.. LaSseter said one aim of the
inquiry would be the elimination of
unnecessary administrative detail"
He conceded that this would require
care, because Government "neceSSi-
tates a certain amount of what is
commonly known as red tape"
While the inquiry is directed at
overstaffing, he said Il think we
would not be doing q full job if we
did not also investigate undertaking
which may exist in certain agencies.