Federal-State Personnel Relations

• Author: George C.S. Benson
• DOI: 10.1177/000271624020700106
• Published date: 01 January 1940
• Date: 01 January 1940
• Subject Matter: Articles

Federal-State Personnel Relations
By GEORGE C. S. BENSON
THE rapidly expanding literature of attempt to define the goals of our fed-
public administration has wisely ig-
eral system or to appraise any of the
nored much of the old-line political sci-
various devices of the new federalism in
ence which was one of its several parents.
the light of these objectives. The editor
It has not worried itself greatly about
of this issue of THE ANNALS displays a
sovereignty or pluralism or academic dis-
broader viewpoint in his Uniform State
tinctions between types of states, and
Action,3 but even he fails to evaluate the
has thus avoided much confused meta-
techniques which he portrays in the light
physical thinking, all unrelated to re-
of their effect on the ultimate aims of
ality.
the federal system.
At the same time, however, public ad-
This brief article cannot hope to
ministration should be alert to pick up
achieve what these learned authors have
any political science viewpoints which
failed to accomplish. It aims merely to
may affect the basic goals of our ad-
suggest a method of analysis which, ap-
ministrative institutions. Recent treat-
plied to certain Federal administrative
ments of administrative aspects of Amer-
institutions, will not ignore all that com-
ican federalism have been unfortunately
parative and historical political science
devoid of careful analysis of the manner
has taught about federalism. Particular
in which the fundamental goals of our
application will be made to the field of
American federal system are affected
Federal-state personnel relations, since
by the administrative institutions de-
the writer has had both official connec-
scribed.
tions and research relationships with
For example, Professor V. 0. Key’s
Federal and state agencies in that
otherwise brilliant study of The Admin-
sphere. In fairness to the reader, how-
istration o Federal Grants to States 1
ever, it should be noted that these re-
omits the most fundamental reason for
flections are only offshoots of these ex-
operating governmental services through
periences, and that the writer might
grants to the states rather than through
express very different viewpoints if he
a Federal agency-the value of political
had conducted researches as extensive as
decentralization for the maintenance of
those noted above.
constitutional, democratic government.
Moreover, although the book mentions
VALUES AND CRITICISMS OF
such other important
FEDERALISM
purposes of a
grants-in-aid system as the desirability
What advantages do we feel that our
of flexibility, it consistently omits men-
federal system possesses as contrasted
tion of instances in which an excess of
with a unitary system? The following
Federal administrative zeal has defeated
distinctive features are certainly funda-
these purposes.
Similarly, Professor
mental :
Jane Perry Clark portrays The Rise of
f
1. The prevention, by division of the
a New Federalism 2 in a volume which,
agencies possessing political power, of
however stimulating, makes almost no
the acquisition by any one agency of
power sufficient to overthrow
1

democratic,
Chicago: Public Administration Service,
constitutional government;
1937.
2
New York: Columbia University Press,
3
Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina
1938.
Press, 1934.
38



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39
2. An opportunity for experimenta-
ministrative standards may be estab-
tion in governmental matters;
lished within the states.4
3. An opportunity to adapt govern-
FIELDS
mental
OF GRANTS-IN-AID
programs to needs of different
localities;
One of the natural results of the de-
4. An opportunity to train our citi-
sire to maintain the basic values of fed-
zenry in state institutions before select-
eralism and yet to overcome its basic
ing them for national responsibilities;
disadvantages has been the grants-in-aid
5. The administrative advantages at-
system. Such systems are now in effect
tendant upon a forced administrative de-
in connection with several aspects of
centralization.
public welfare-including public health,
Recognition of the desirability of these
public assistance, and one form of social
goals does not, however, deny the valid-
insurance-with roads, with limited as-
ity of certain basic criticisms of a federal
pects of education and conservation,
form of government. The most obvious
with military affairs, with agricultural
disadvantages are:
research and education, and with em-
1. The tendency of freedom of com-
ployment offices. At present, indications
merce-almost universal within federal
point to the extension of grants-in-aid to
systems-to place economic handicaps
other fields.
A discussion as to what
on progressive social legislation by mem-
...