538 ROSA: REORGANIZED CIVIL SERVICE 



do as well as they do. Many men of ability and experience are 

 serving the government at salaries below a living wage. But 

 the losses to the service due to resignations of such men in re- 

 sponsible positions are very serious and the situation is steadily 

 growing worse. ^ Paying low salaries to men in important ad- 

 ministrative positions leads to inefficiency and waste rather than 

 economy. 



5. FUNCTION OF CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION 



The function of the Civil Service Commission as an employ- 

 ment agency is to be of maximum service to the executive de- 

 partments in filling positions and administering the personnel. 

 In addition to safeguarding the interests of the public and of 

 the employees by keeping the service free from the effects of 

 politics and favoritism, it is able to render great assistance to 

 administrative officers by finding men and women who are 

 qualified for the various positions to be filled, taking full account 

 of the needs of the service and of the importance in many cases 

 of special training and experience. In the case of supervisory 

 and technical positions, administrative officers and their trained 

 assistants who know the requirements of the work and the quali- 

 fications needed, and who are responsible for the results obtained, 

 should be given a large measure of authority as well as of re- 

 sponsibility in making appointments and promotions. The Civil 

 Service Commission should, however, be closely in touch with 

 the bureaus and departments and should be so well acquainted 

 with the needs of the service that it can advise, or overrule, if 

 necessary, intelligently and sympathetically. The experience of 

 the Civil Service Commission shows that administrative officers 

 as a rule welcome its assistance and advice when they can deal 

 directly and can understand one another. Difficulties, when they 

 occur, are generally caused by lack of understanding from lack 

 of contact. Prompt and efficient administration is important ; 

 excessive formality and routine, involving unbusiness-like delay 

 and unnecessary expense, should be avoided. 



^ See editorial in Chicago Evening Post, Sept. 8. 1920, page 44, concerning "Young 

 Men in Government Service." 



