Evening star., 1955-07-03
Would a Senior Civil Service,
British Style, Work in U. S.?

classes. recent analyses have shown
that quarter now are drawn from
the sons Of small employers. shop
keepers, shop assistants and clerks.
For example. two Of the permanent
chiefs Of six major departments in
1850 were sons of manual workers.
OF 33l officials in the highest ad-
ministrative posts, 27.2 per cent
were the sons or daughters Of
skilled and unskilled workers.
Approximately half of the ad-
ministrative class have been re-
cruited on the basis Of university
type examinations and personal
interviews In 1854, AZ were
appointed out Of 655 who
qualified. The Hoover Commission
however. would recruit all Of its
senior civil service by promotion
from the lower civil service or
other Government departments.
During the last war the British
civil service. in the course of its
expansion, attracted some out
standing senior recruits, particu-
larly former Ambassador to the
United States, Sir Oliver Franks,
who became in 1945 Permanent
Secretary to the Ministry of Sup
ply. Some Of these exceptional OUT
siders have remained in the civil
service, such as the present Perma-
nent Secretary Of the Ministry Of
Fuel and Power, Sir John Maud,
another ex-don from oxford.
Poy Problem
What are the present problems
OF the higher British civil service?
For over a year a royal commits
sion has been holding hearings on
this subject. The chief disadvantage
under which the service operates
is its relatively poor pay in COM
parison to the attraction Of indus
try In fact, in one recent year 10
successful candidates rejected civil
service appointments for academic
life.
Sir John Maud recently testified
that business offers q very much
more attractive prospect than the
civil service" Many prominent and
retired civil servants agree that
unless the longtime salaries are
increased the civil service will fail
to attract the handful Of really
first-rate people required to main
tain its standards.
Although competition for recruit.
ing the best men from the uni
versitleS has become keener, the
civil service has lost very few Of
Its key of1cials to industry or other
professions. For one thing. a
trained civil servant is rarely quail
1fied for the type of managerial
position which industry or business
oners. However, when q senior off,
cial does leave there is q serious
loss.
The competitive attractions Of
other careers has tended to lower
the standing and general reputation
OF the administrative class.
Criticism Increases
Also there has been a recent dis
position on the part of the press
and public-as government has ex-
ercised more control over the ave-
rage mans daily life-to become
much more critical Of civil servants.
The violent public outburst last
year over the excessive authority
usurped BY q few civil servants in
the Crichel Down affair reflected
widespread irritation at the i'm
crease in governmental influence.
Despite these criticisms, it is gen.
orally agreed that the higher civil
service in Great Britain occupies
a position of influence and inde-
pendence unequaled in any other
country.
A former high British Official in
washington has observed that.
since the United States spans n
continent and has Federal prob.
lens. its civil service must con-
tinue to evolve In Its own way. The
fruit Of British experience cannot
be transplanted to the different
climate Of Washington. But those
factors responsible for success Of
the British system can well be
taken into account before radical
changes are made in the United
States organization.
There is no pell nell rush, Of
course, to put the Hoover COM
mission recommendations into ef-
feet. Politicians in America win
have to change their minds about
"holdovers" from previous admin
istrations before they can even be
receptive to the idea. The myth
Ia widespread In Washington that
career civil servants can and do
sabotage all the bright. new ideas
Of an incoming administration.