Evening star., 1943-12-21
D. {. Employees
Federal Status
Weighed Again
Civil Service Blanket
Over District Worker
Suggested by Mason

The Commissioners have under
consideration again legislation which
would place all District employees
under Federal civil service, Com
missioner Guy Mason said last night.
The suggested legislation will be
laid before the Board of Commits
sioners after the holidays by Mr..
Mason, along with comments on the
pros and cons of the measure by
Budget Officer Walter L. Fowler.
Under an executive order of For
mer President Hoover there is an
agreement that the majority of per-
manent District positions are filled
from eligible lists. In the past the
Commissioners have sought modifi-
cation of the agreement with the
Civil Service Commission. The COM
mission declined to change the
agreement, but offered to abrogate it.
The commission has sent to the
Commissioners legislation placing
all District employees, including those
OF the Registrar of Wills and Re-
corder of Deeds, under Federal Civil
Service. Mr.. Fowler's comment on
the legislation follows:
THE following disadvantages are
suggested:
Freedom Of Appointment.
"The passage of the bill in It's
present form would dissolve the
Commissioners remaining freedom
of appointment.
1T would practically be manda-
tory to employ undesirables on oe-
casion when properly certified by the
Civil Service Commission.
THE Commissioners would lose
their appointive right over the now
excepted heads of departments.
Whereas adherence to the regu-
lations promulgated by the Civil
Service Commission is now elective,
in all probability thereafter, ad-
herence would be mandatory.
The inclusion of all unskilled per
diem workers, approximately $500,
constitutes decided disadvantage.
The bulk of these employees are en-
ployed by the Districts operating
agencies-the city refuse, sewer.
water and highway divisions. They
wuold be handicapped if they would
be unable to make appointments as
promptly as the needs of their serv-
ices require.
The question of apportionment
would become serious unless a
qualifying phrase or provision were
inserted to give District residents
precedence for appointment in the
District service.
Advantage Listed.
"A few of the advantages might
be listed as follows:
The first advantages. of course.
would be the fact that the Civil
Service Commission would be able
to hold examinations for the Dis
trict, which, at present they cannot
do by virtue Of the fact that they
can incur no additional expense.
Pressure on the part of the posi-
ton seekers would be reduced to a
negligible factor"
The question of an independent
municipal civil service is still being
considered as an alternative by the
city heads. However, it is estimated
that the initial cost of setting I'D
such service would be a quarter
of million dollars and that there
after it would cost the city s65 900
annually.
The principal provisions of the
legislation under consideration reads
that with the exception of the
Board of Education and the Board
of Library Trustees and of the Of
fees and agencies of the Govern
ment of the District of Columbia
which are now by acts of Congress
subject to the provisions of the
Federal Civil Service Act and rules,
all appointments, employments
promotions and other personnel
changes under the Government of
the District of Columbia shall be
subject to the provisions of the
Civil Service Act and rules as they
are administered by the United
States Civil Service Commission.
The provisions Of this act shall
apply to the Offices of the Recorder
of Deeds and the Registrar of Wills
nf tho District Of