Evening star., 1949-08-22
Contends Civil Service Needs
More Help and Understanding
Tditnr 49, Tv1,a

To the Editor Of The Star:
1t has become fashionable of late to at
tack the United States Civil Service Com
mission, putting the blame at its doorstep
for the multitude of ills which are supposed
to have befallen the Civil Service system
sion has been called to task, by both Sena-
tors and Representatives at its appropria-
tions hearings and during debates in their
respective chambers, for failing to do its
duty. Various newspapers, agency heads
and the National Civil Service League have
taken up the cudgel. Few have come to the
defense Of the Commission and even fewer
ever have rendered word of praise to it.
AS an employe of the Commission, and
as one who takes an interest in his own
work and the work of the Commission as
it relates to the other agencies and depart
ments, would like to present another side
of the story It Is doubtful that any Of
its critics. and that includes members Of
Congress, ever have taken the opportunity
to acquaint themselves with the operations
of the Commission and its day-to-day func-
tions. It is unlikely that any OF these critics
ever have taken the trouble actually to visit
the Commission and see for themselves how
we operate. All our duties and responsible
ties have been delegated to us by Acts OF
Congress and it certainly would be to their
interest to know more about us.
We administer, among other Acts, the
Retirement System, Veterans Preference.
Classification. the Loyalty Program. etc., all
through Congressional fat Every part OF
our work is circumscribed by Congress itself.
We have issued many rules and regulations
within the purview Of these Acts OF Con-
gress and we are bound to enforce them to
the best of our ability.
Personnel Figures Given.
of
small personnel we have for this under
taking? There are approximately 100000
Federal employees at this time, yet there are
only about 400 Commission employees.
This is but one Commission employe for
about every 500 other employees in the Gov.
ernment. We are recognized as the so.
called Personnel Agency for the Govern
ment and yet, the ratio OF personnel em-
ployes in the individual agencies is I believe.
to be held to one for every 120 other en-
ployes. We are thinly spread out. too. be-
cause the Commissions own personnel is
split up. with roughly one-half in the Cen
tral Office and the other half in the field,
maintaining IA regional offices. At the peak
Of its strength during the war the Comm1s-
sion had about 1900 employees while the
Federal establishment had some 100000
employees. With the latter now cut to only
two-thirds Of its wartime size, the Commis-
sion, nevertheless, has been cut almost in
half. In fact, we have had the aforemen-
toned 400 employees only since the incep-
ton of the Loyalty Program late in 1947.
Before that we had reached low Of about
3.400 employees in December, 1916.
Our work hardly has decreased since the
end Of the war. The reconversion from a
wartime Civil Service to a peacetime one
has been a great and difficult operation.
AS an example Of the handicaps under
which we have had to labor, consider the
Examining Division: In the Central Office
1t was cut from about 1900 employees to
about half. right in the midst of this con-
version to peacetime civil service. Just
when the need was greatest for preparing
tests. announcing and conducting examina-
tions. grading the papers, making up lists
OF eligibles and certifying them, it was then
that our funds were cut. The workload
was just as great in the Commissions other
divisions. Having worked as supervisor
in both the Service Record and the Inves
legations Divisions, can speak from actual
experience. At no time since the wars end
did ever have enough personnel, equip
ment or space adequately to cope with an
incredible amount Of work At no time
could the Commission afford to give me
more than the bare essentials to enable
me to operate my unit with any degree
Of accomplishment.
Cites Discouraging Conditions.
No other agency in the Government has
worked, and is still working. as hard with
SO little to work with No other agency
has had to keep its employees working so
long with so little likelihood Of advance
ment. There simply is no money for actual
operating expenses, let alone for promo
tions. Nowhere else will you find employees
with such low morale, due mainly to the
constant sniping at us from the outside,
the yearly agony over our budget and ap-
preparations and the certainty only Of hard
work without reward. In no other agency,
am sure, will you find SO many really
capable employees in dead-end and thankless
Jobs
To the charge that the Commission was
allowing the agencies to run wild" as re-
CARDS personnel matters. exactly how were
we to cope with this allegation when we
never had more than pitifully small In
spection Division? In the matter Of post
auditing the agencies own personnel trans
actions how much of this can be done with
out personnel Of our own? How is it pos
sible for force as small as ours to rule on
thousands Of cases involving status, REIN
statement, classification, separation, appor-
tionment, reduction in force and q host Of
other matters so important to the mass of
Government workers? How could we give
prompt and efficient service to the hundreds
Of thousands Of war-service employees who
clamored for permanent status? How could
we take care Of the numerous veterans
appeals. the enormous amount Of requests
for information and the handling Of a tre-
mendous correspondence, all without suf6-
cient personnel?
The Civil Service Commission deserves to
be understood, not vilified It wants to be
appreciated, not arbitrarily condemned. It
needs the confidence Of the Congress, the
rest Of the Government and the general
public. Above all. it needs the wherewithal
to do the job expected Of It,
JOSEPH H. HENIG.
Blames Congress for Ineficiency
OF Government Agencies
TO the Editor OF The Star:
Reader Edmondston asks the question: