Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-04-03

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over. and not an excessive num-
Der of employees on the Federal
payroll. that is the greatest waste
in Government.
Senator Humphrey. chairman
of the Senate Subcommittee on
Government Reorganization and
q strong friend of Federal en-
ployes, declared:
THE greatest waste in Gov
eminent today is not the num-
bers of people employed in pub
lie service. but the loss of trained
personnel through heavy turn
over caused by a breakdown in
employe morale as a result Of
inadequate compensation. abuse
instead of respect and an unfair
ceiling on opportunity by limit
ing top posts to political appoint
n ments instead of recognizing and
making good use of the expert
ence and training of career per-
sonnet.
NJ Good government begins with
10 competent career service, prop
erly compensated both flnan-
cially and with public respect. 1t
is undermined and crippled to
the extent such a career service
is weakened by favoritism.
political patronage or morale
destroying disrespect. The SOON
er we learn that, and accept it
as fact, the better of we will be. -
Senator Humphrey noted:
IAN the talk about good govern
fnent. efficiency and economy is
useless If we neglect the basic
force needed to achieve these
goals-the people who dedicate
their lives to working in Govern
1nent."
~ The Minnesotan also differed
with some of his Democratic
Alleagues in the Senate who
ant to apply across-the-board
AXkductions in Federal jobs.
M There can be bad economy"
rs well as good economy" Sena-
TOR Humphrey said. He added.
Some shortsighted advocates Of
across the board percentages
cuts in Government personnel
actually result in less efficiency
than more. through rewarding
the Office with padded budgets
and penalizing the honest ad-
nlinistrator trying to do a good
Job at a minimum of cost in
dollars and people"
Senator Humphrey also told
The personnel officers that they
have a responsibility to protect
the rights and interests of en-
ployes and to speak UP in their
behalf. instead of just being a
spokesman for management.
n If you really believe in the
career service. you are the peo-
pie who are going to have to
make 1t work by having the
courage to resist invasions Of
employe rights" Senator Hum
phrey said. 1T is going to take
courage to do that, when even
personnel officers are sometimes
victims of politically inspired
firings."
CHARITY DRIVES LEGAL
Government officials were dis
turbed the other day over rumors
that a Justice Department or
Controller General ruling had
held that it was illegal to use
Federal employees to engage in
collections for the various char
tty fund drives in Government.
However, a check showed that
the Controller General in 1854
held that the use of employees
in such drives was proper, as
long as they didn't devote the
major portion of their time to
spuch work.
This was a relief to Federal
officials responsible for the
charity drives, since a ban on
the use of employees in collect
ing contributions would Just
about make such charity cam
paigns impossible.
INSURANCE POLICIES-The
Civil Sel vice Commission yester-
day asked the House Appropria-
tons Committee for a S76,500
supplemental appropriation to
save the life insurance policies
held by $4,000 present and for
mer Federal workers in employee
beneficial associations that are
going out Of business.
Actually. if the csc does not