Evening star., 1919-12-26
WAR RISK FORCE
MAY Be REDUCED
BY2,0OO WORKERS
Many Are Resigning-94O
Received Notice on
December 5.

A reduction of approximately 2.oco
employees during this month in the
force of the bureau of war risk insur-
ance is expected to be accomplished by
the bureau officials. Nine hundred and
forty temporary employees received no
tice December ) that after December
81 there would be no call for their
services. and an additional 1000 en-
plOyeS are expected to resign during
the Christmas holidays as a result of
the home exodus of out-of-toWn work
SrS
These figures are part of the general
stabilization and reduction program
organized under the new admniStra-
tion of the bureau last September. :"
Today the daily rolls of the bureau
show 12.577 employees. of which 2,3S4
the report of Director Cholmeley-
Jones to the House appropriations
committee. which says that the force
will be reduced by 5000 between De-
cember and June 30. 1920 He has
given assurance that during the next
fiscal year, ending June so. 1921, he
proposes to reduce the entire force
of fine bureau to one-half the max
inum wartime strength, which was ap-
proximately $4,000 This means a re
duction in year and a half of 800
employees.
The figures were submitted to the
Legislative subcommittee II the House
appropriations committee. Director
Choimeley- Jones took this action in
justification of the estimated appro-
priations.
New Positions Obtained.
The employes leaving the bureau
during the past few months have not
been told by Uncle Sam: we don
need you any more. find another job.
according to an official. but through
a special organization IN the bureau
a position was obtained for practl-
caIly every employe needing it. The
bureau practically created an employ
ment agency, which is the nrst one
to be put into a government depart
ment. according to Assistant Dlrector
NJ r. Wainer.
Every employe who was given
notice of separation was cared for by
the employment department, II re-
quest was made he said me oe-
partment looks for a position Tor the
departing employe. and if the appll-
can't is unsuccessful, follows up the
case until ne or she is placed at WORK
This affects temporary employees es-
pecialiy They come to work expect-
ing only temporary employment oue
at the conclusion of their tasks IL
they wish. we find them another po-
sition. we have had virtually no
protests" ;.,,
The reduction is being made with
a view to placing the bureau as soon
as possible upon as efficient WORK
smallest number of employees The
estimate is that by 1921 only ',ooo
will be needed to handle the work.
The reason for this is that the allot-
ment and allowance division is steadi
" resuming a. decreasing numper oI
calls. and that with the reduction OF
the Army and Navy the number OF al
jotments and allowances is sunerlng
a proportionate decrease This makes
less work and less work requires few
er employees.
Plan for Sterilization.
The plan for reduction of forces is
called the "stabilization program at
the bureau. Steps to put it into erect
were taken when the new bureau ad-
ministration took charge IN Septein-
ber-
In August. 1919. when the bureau
was still at work clearing up the last
items of a war, the employees num-
bered 1921. On December l. the rolls
showed only 13,77S. And today the
total number of employees is but 12,57,.
a drop of more than LOO during the
present month
Those who were given notice to
leave received Christmas gift. From
December 10 they We're given Vaca-
ton. paid up until January l, and the
employment department started to
work to secure positions for the for
ner employees. The two weeks pay
was practically bonus.
These were the figures and plans
upon which Director Cholmeley-Jones
based his report to the congressional
committee
officials at the bureau made 1t plain
that every possible step would be
taken to enable the employees leaving
the bureau to find employment as soon
as possible. Many are said to be al
ready working at new positions with
the census bureau and in the Treasury
Department