Evening star., 1948-02-20
Letters to The Star
Training for Government Service

Training for Government Service
To the Editor of The Star
The Presidents complaints regarding the
difficulty of getting competent men to accept
Government posts; the proposals now before
the Congress to raise top salary levels in order
to lessen somewhat the spread between high
administrative salaries in public and private
employment, the discussions of the difficulties
In staining ERP, and the Royal suggestions
that business lend promising young executives
to Governmental these draw attention to
one of the weaknesses in our governmental
system. All are noteworthy for their contrihu-
tions toward solving the serious problem Of how
to enlist our most promising talent for, the
public service They do not include, however,
a proposal which has been under frequent dis
cussion by many familiar with public admin
istration, namely, that of making available
college and university training to equip stu
dents for careers in Government service.
It is encouraging that many educational
institutions are giving special attention to
training for the public service, and that the
Carnegie Foundation has recently enlarged
its scope of interests to include the training Of
university students for Government careers for
political leadership. I have found that the
prestige of the public service in late years has
been enhanced, but it is discouraging to find
that many educators and many students are
still dubious of the wisdom Of seeking careers
IN Government rather than in private en-
ployment
. The recent statement of the president of
the University Of Chicago, discouraging uni
versity and college trained persons from enter
ing Government service, is lameAtable because
of its implications. Nevertheless, it epitomizes
the strong sentiment against careers in Gov
ernment service privately expressed to me by
many educators and students. have had
occasion to discuss with faculty members and
students, both at the undergraduate and grad
uate levels, the need for talent in responsible
administrative positions, as we'll as in scientific
professional and technical posts. I have also
participated, as one of its advisory committee
in some measure in the program of the United
States Civil Service Commission, which seeks
to integrate the curricula of the universities
and colleges with the needs Of the Civil
Service. have found that the lack of interest
in Government careers is based largely on the
strong suspicion, too often confirmed by expe-
rience that appointment and promotion In
the civil services of the Federal, State and
municipal governments are not based exclu-
sively on merit and fitness.
It is extremely important that the univef-
stiles train our young citizens for responsible
Government posts. There is, however, another
aspect Of this problem which is so fundamental
that without it the program will inevitably fail.
That is, the extension and development of the
principle Of the merit system in the selection
and advancement of Government employees
It does little good to pour millions into our
universities to train bright young men and
women for Government service, or to encourage
the students to spend time and money on such
training, If they may be denied opportunity to
serve their Government because of political
control of public positions, or be ousted later
from public positions because of a lack of mod
ern personnel concepts in Government services
To establish the kind of public service
which will seek such talent and use it to the
best advantage, and which young men and
women can enter on merit alone, is one of the
vital objectives of the National Civil Service
League. H. ELIOT KAPLAN
Executive Secretary.