Evening star., 1953-08-30
Text Of Rees Letter


ReeS' letter to Commissioner
Philip Young demanding ac-
ton in finding jobs for dis
placed Government career
WorkerS tolloWS::
Dear Mr.. Chairman:
I read in the press few
days ago reports of your reor-
ganization of the Civil Serv-
ice Commission. More recently
I have received copies of the
press statement and Reorgani-
zation Plan itself. I have not
had opportunity to examine
this document in detail, but
note that it does provide for
some additional supergrade
jobs for present employees OF
the Commission.
The general observation oc-
ours to me that the Civil Serv-
ice Commission may have
become so engroSsed in re-
vamping it's own internal or
ganization that it is permitting
the barn to burn down so far
as concerns it's Government
wide responsibility for direc-
ton of the Cover ment
personnel program. Very
frankly, thousands of qualified
career employees who have lost
their jobs are, as you know,
upset by finding that after as
much as 80 and 35 years Of
service they are out looking
for jobs, while thousands Of
temporary employees - who
never passed a Civil Service
examination or satisfactorily
completed a probational period
hold Government positions.
ASSailS Promotions.
AS you know, I publicly
espoused a program for dis
placed career employees long
before 1t was announced or
placed into effect. I recognized
at the time that no displaced
career employe program would
be effective without a frontal
attack on the need for filling
indefinite and temporary posi-
tionS in Government through
appointment of displaced
career employees. Another very
sore point, and one which 1
certainly cannot reconcile, is
that promotions are being
made in the Federal depart
mentS and agencies while at
the same time career employees
are being separated.
The problem of so many
temporary and indefinite en-
ployeS on the payroll is two
pronged. First, it springs from
a failure of the department
and agencies to fill permanent
positions up to the number
they had on September l, 1850.
They were permitted to do so
under the provisions of the
Whitten amendment. 1t seems
to me the large number of
temporary employees in the
Executive Branch is presently
unwarranted. Secondly, there
is failure Of the heads Of de-
partments and agencies to
separate the Group 3, or tenn
porary-indef1nite, employe be-
fore qualified career employees
lose their jobs.
I have asked for reports
from the departments and
major agencies covering the
number of permanent appoint
ments to which they are en-
titled and which have not
been filled. For example, one
old line department has re-
ported approximately $50 of
its permanent positions have
not been filled. In another
agency. one-third of the per-
manent positions are vacant.
3 Things Can Be Done.
If the program for displaced
career employees is to be saved,
it calls for prompt and effec-
tive action. Here are three
things that can be done and
will tend to correct the situa-
ton:
l. A freeze order on all per-
sonnel actions involving in
ternal promotions, and on the
employment Of individuals
from outside other than from
the displaced career employees
register. Exception should be
made only in the case Of
hardship and upon prior ap-
proval by the Civil Service
Commission. While 1t may be
argued that freeze orders of