The Washington times., 1919-12-30
WAR RISK BUREAU WILL
BE CUT TILL ONLY
1000 REMAIN

Twelve thousand clerks are to be
dropped from the Government rolls
id Washington during the next six
months. accordinSsto Q fAnvass made
in the severA Government depart
msnts and bureaus to-day by The
Times.
OF this number $500 are to be
dropped from the War Risk Insur-
ance Bureau in January, and further
reductions will be made during the
ensuing six months, until the force Is
brought down to a point approximat-
ing 1000 clerks ard officials. The
wartime basis OF the bureau was in
excess Of $4,000.
The War Department. which reach
ed maximum of $4,000 at the time
the armistice was signed. has already
made a reduction of about 43 per cent.
leaving approximately 10000 clerks
now on it's rolls. Reductions to be
made between now and June i will
bring this force down to about 10. 600.
inquiry at the War Department show
ed. THE pre-war strength was 5000
clerks
$500 Navy Clerks Left.
Tho Navy Department with a pre-
war strength Of about 1000 clerks,
reached a maximum of $500 at the
time OF the armistice, and has been re-
duced down to approximately 4,300
clerks at the present time. In this
department there has been no whole
sale reductions nor are any contem-
Plated. Rather IL is planned to bring
the department back to a peace time
footing gradually. No vacancies are
being filled, and reductions are being
made in the course of reorganization.
The Marine Corps is gradually de-
mobilizing it's clerical force. The
high mark in this branch of the
fighting unit was reached at the
time of the armistice when about $50
Clerks were enrolled.
This force has since been reduced
to 325 and further reductions will be
made gradually until the total num-
Der of clerks is brought down to
about $50, the pre-war strength Of
the clerical personnel
Treasury Must Hold Clerks.
The Treasury department with its
several bureaus is virtueilv at its
maximum strength and reductions in
the near future will be impossible in
view Of the tremendous work ahea'
OF it for years to come. There will
be no increase in the clerical person
mel, nor will there be a decrease dur
ing the next year. Other department :
and bureaus were not affected by II
war and naturally will experience
readjustments.
Steps to provide against the impor
tation Of clerks to work in the Tensus
Bureau will be taken i'm nediately
when Congress reassembles after tn
holiday recess by Senator Smoot Of
Utah, who declares that clerks dis
missed from the War Risk and othe
bureaus must be given preference in
this work.
THE Census Bureau is advertising
throughout the country for clerica'
help in Washington, and l propose {,
see to il that clerks here are given
the opportunity to fill these posi-.
tions,' said Senator Smoot today.
The work is necessarily OF a TEN
porary nature. and while it is pos
sible that better clerks might be cb-
tanned, ii is well u take carc Of those
that are already here. We all must
eat and have a roof over our heads
so IL is necessarily the duty OF the
Government to provide as far as pos
sible for the war workers who dr.
now being let out with the readtusI-
ments Incidental to 0care."
Get Notice On New Year.
Senator Smoot has been active Sn
the floor of the Senate in bringing
about a complete readjustment in III,
War Risk Insurance Bureau. He ha
demanded a reduction OF the clerical
force in this bureau to 1000. and III
an effort to meet this Mr.. Cholme.y-
Jones, director of the bureau. vii
ask for appropriations sufficient t.
pay and provide for 1000 clerks Ia
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