Evening star., 1948-03-14
Officials Urge
Cabinet 10 Hire
Super S|euths'
Administrators Hear
Prison Chief Criticiz,
Classification Act

A force of super sleuths" to keep
cabinet officers advised on what is
going on in their departments was
urged by two Government officials
yesterday at the annual conference
of the American Society for Public
Administration.
James v. Bennett, director of the
Bureau Of Prisons, Justice Depart
ment, in another panel discussion,
criticized the Federal Classification
Act as holding down Government
workers in promotions.
The super sleuth' subject was
first mentioned in a panel discus
sion by Bernard L. Gladieux, execu-
tive assistant to Secretary Of Com
merce Hartman. He advocated a
force, operating out of the Secre-
tary's office to 60 among the various
bureaus of the department and re-
port any worthwhile information to
the cabinet officer.
Not an FBI Situation"
Mr.. Gladieux made it clear that
this would not be an FBI situa-
ton" He explained that this is
an established practice in many
departments so far as budget and
personnel are concerned. His pro-
posal would extend the practice to
policy and program matters.
The duties of this force would be
to gather information and make
recommendation to the Secretary
on matters of interest to the de-
partment as whole, Mr.. Gladieux
said.
This would isolate administra-
tion and policy problems that ought
to come to the attention of the
Secretary before they become pub
lie issues" Mr.. Gladieux added.
His program, he said, would be in
the interests of economy, efficiency
and, coordination of policy.
Bureaus Wouldn't Like 1t.
Commenting on the proposal,
Assistant Federal Security Admin
istrator j. Donald Kingsley, panel
chairman, said:
I'VE need puncn OF super
sleuths, but the bureaus won't like
it,:
Arnold Miles, Budget Bureau
executive, summarizing the discus
sion, said the cabinet officers need
strengthened staff facilities and new
stats on program and policy. He
said this would help the Secretary in
his role as adviser to the President.
Mr.. Bennett said rigid applica-
ton of the Classification Act mar
rows man." prevents initiative" u
and does not recognize that times
and employment needs change" He
declared rigid classification of a job,
as passed on by the Civil Service
Commission, does not take into
account emotion, diligence, the abil-
ity to get along with people, interest
in the job and ability to get things
done. He conceded. however, that
there are ways and means of get
ting around it If an administrator
wants to take that course.
Dirks Commends Law.
"A bureaucrat does not have very
much to say about personnel, sep
arations and salary of his en-
ployes," Mr.. Bennett said. Yet the
administrator is the one who has to
take the rap before the people and
congressional committees"
John F. Dirks, Civil Service Com
mission official who handles classifi-
cation matters here, another panel
member, said:
"The Classification Act has done
more for the average Government
employe than anything else, as he
has the right to appeal the classif-
cation of his job. 1t eliminates the
caste system in Government"
In a, talk earlier yesterday, DR..
Charles E. Merriam, member of the
Federal Loyalty Review Board, told
the society that loyalty in public
service should be promoted by closer
attention to adequate pay and social
security for public employees as well
rs more adequate working and living
conditions.
He called for halt to "the stream
OF bitter, smearing attacks upon
public servants and service" and
warned:
"1ndiscriminate batting of public
servants stands across the way of
the finest type of public service and
Hveliest forms of allegiance to the
common good" he said.
1T tends to drive men away from
the public service without which the
Nation cannot live. A constructive
program to foster loyalty would be
worth the price"