Evening star., 1950-01-01

civil service
matters Con-
gress is expect
ed to consider
this year:
!. The Hoov-
er Commission
proposals for
overhauling the
Cove rnment's *'S&'"' a>S,FF>'
civil service Joseph Young.
system. These recommendations
include decentralizing personnel
activities from the Civil Service
Commission to the departments
and agencies. revising the Gov
ernment's observation-disclosures pro-
cedure, making it easier to fire
incompetent employees, and CIV
ing agencies more selection in
hiring employees.
2. Revising the Governments S
efficiency rating system.
3. Veterans preference in Gov
ernment employment.
4. Greater promotional oppor-
tunities for Federal workers.
S. The question of whether to
reduce the 26 days annual and Is
days sick leave given classified
employees. and whether at the
same time to increase the Is days
annual leave given postal workers.
6. Redistribution of the postal
pay act. /
7. Credit toward within grade
promotions for veterans who en-
tered the Government service for
the first time after the war.
8. Less costly survivorship an
nuity benefits to Government en-
ployes already retired.
8. Modification of Hatch Act
penalties. which now provide for
the summary dismissal Of Govern
ment employees found guilty Of po-
litical activities, no matter how
minor or unintentional the offense
Jobless Benefits.
10. Unemployment compensa-
ton benefits for Federal employees.
II. The tax exemption of the
first $1.400 annual payments of
Civil Service annuities.
IL. A Little Wagner Act" for
Government employees unions
granting them collective bargain
ing rights.
13. Official recognition and reg
ular appropriations for Federal
recreation activities.vs4s,ass. 49,. -
II. More rigid duyernment con-
trot Of its cafeterias.
Is. Reducing or abolishing bond
ing requirements for Federal en-
ployes.
Is. More retirement fringe
benefits, such as increased min
imum payments to widows and
orphans Of deceased Federal en-
ployes who were only in the Gov
ernment service for a few years
and to employees who had to retire
because of disability.
The fact that Congress will
consider all Of these civil service
matters does not by any means
indicate that 1t will approve all OF
them or even majority Of them
Some will have tough shedding
and others are not accorded any
chance this year.
Pay Issue Unlikely.
This year will probably be the
first IN the last six In which thu
question of Federal pay raises will
not be an issue. Outside of posta
supervisors and postmasters, the
prospect of further Government
salary increases are virtually nj
and Congress isn't expected tc
consider the matter at all.
The only exception to this Il
the possibility of raising the CELL
ing on the 400 job limitations in
filling the new $11, 900 to $4,000
a-year positions authorized by
Congress as part Of the new Fed
eral pay act. Civil service officials
will ask that the ban either be
abolished or modified in order
that more than 400 Federal Of
ficials can be given the new sal
aries If the occasion warrants 1t.
Regarding the 16 major legis-
lative items listed here, the
Hoover Commission personnel
proposals probably are the most
far-reaching. While it's fairly
certain that not all Of the Hoover
recommendations will be ap-
proved, the sentiment appears to
be for adoption Of at least some
Of the proposals.
The decentralization of person
mel authority to the agencies can
be accomplished only through the
combination of presidential ex-
ecutive order and legislation ap-
proved by Congress. Otherwise,
the decentralization wouldn't be
as far-reaching as recommended
by the Hoover group.
Limited Changes Favored.
Sentiment in the House and
Senate Civil Service Committees
appears to be in favor Of limited
decentralization, but not as far
reaching as proposed by the Hoov-
er Commission. The feeling ap-
pears to be that q strong Civil
Service Commission is desirable,
although the agencies should be
given somewhat more leeway in
handing their personnel affairs
Congress may also change the
present lone out Of three" hiring
rule in middle and top grade Fed
eral jobs, so that agencies may
have more of q choice in hiring
from the individuals. certified tC
them by the commission. A one
QUITO five rule has been sug-
gested for middle grade Federal
positions. with no restrictions on
top grade jobs.
The odds appear to favor the re-
vision Of the Governments present
|efficiencv rating SvstaYn will, thn