The Need for Correlation of Personnel Activities in the Federal Service
| Date | 01 May 1924 |
| Published date | 01 May 1924 |
| Author | Herbert A. Filer |
| DOI | 10.1177/000271622411300130 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
220
THE
ANNALS
OF
THE
AMERICAN
ACADEMY
ties
and
qualifications
and
that
they
merit
substantially
the
same
rates
of
compensation.
The
positions
that
are
substantially
alike
constitute
a
class
and
it
can
be
described
in
terms
of
its
duties
and
responsibilities
and
the
qualifications
required
for
its
perform-
ance
and
it
can
be
given
a
title
that
is
descriptive.
Then
all
the
uses
of
clas-
sification
can
be
met
by
a
single
classi-
fication
generally
applied
and
generally
understood.
Against
this
type
of
classification
one
objection
is
raised
which
to
my
mind
proves
the
value
of
the
system.
It
in-
cites
criticism.
The
principles
of
the
movement
are
easily
mastered.
The
difficulty
is
getting
at
the
facts.
When
proper
channels
are
developed
for
the
proper
utilization
of
criticism,
it is
a
great
force
in
correcting
incompleteness
or
errors
in
matters
of
fact
and
in
per-
fecting
the
system.
One
might
even
go
so
far
as
to
say
that
one
of
the
great
purposes
of
classification
is
to
furnish
the
basis
for
constructive
criticism
and
the
device
for
utilizing
that
criticism
in
a
progressive
advance
toward
full
achievement
of
the
greatest
purposes
of
classification-good
government.
The
Need
for
Correlation
of
Personnel
Activities
in
the
Federal
Service
By
HERBERT
A.
FILER
Chief
Examiner,
United
States
Civil
Service
Commission
THE
business
of
the
Federal
Gov-
i-
ernment
is
immense
in
volume
and
complex
in
character.
The
ci-
vilian
pay
roll
is
over
$700,000,000
a
year,
not
including
the
legislative
and
judicial
branches.
Of
this
sum,
$400,-
000,000
goes
to
workers
in
the
Postal
Service.
Since
the
Postal
Service
is
practically
self-sustaining,
the
amount
raised
annually
by
taxation
to
meet
the
pay
roll
of
civilians
not
in
the
Postal
Service
is
about
$300,000,000.
Most
of
the
professions
with
their
numerous
specialties
and
most
of
the
occupations
found
in
the
various
industries
are
also
found
in
the
civilian
forces
of
the
Gov-
ernment.
In
addition,
there
are
many
occupations
peculiar
to
the
Govern-
ment
service
for
which
long
training
and
experience
with
the
Government
are
necessary.
Standard
practices
are
expected
in
the
purchase,
distribution
and
use
of
materials
or
supplies
in
quantities.
Economical
administration
of
person-
nel
matters
likewise
requires
standardi-
zation
of
practices.
Since
human
beings
are
not
so
easily
measured
and
sorted
as
supplies,
it
is
more
difficult
to
establish
standard
practices
in
the
per-
sonnel
field
than
in
the
supply
depart-
ment.
UNIFORM
PROCEDURE
LACKING
The
Government
business
is
carried
on
by
numerous
agencies
established
and
guided
by
many
laws,
and
the
methods
of
dealing
with
employment
questions
by
the
several
agencies
are
not
coordinated.
There
should
be
a
comprehensive
employment
policy
based
upon
princi-
ples
which
may
be
carried
out
with
reasonable
uniformity
in
all
depart-
ments
and
establishments.
Until
this
is
done,
taxpayers
will
not
receive
the
maximum
return
in
service
for
that
share
of
taxes
represented
by
the
ci-
vilian
pay
roll.
A
saving
to
the
tax-
payers
of
many
millions
of
dollars
annually
can
be
made
by
means
of
such
a
definite
and
uniform
policy.
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