The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-03-14
J. s. EMPL PLOYMENT SERVICE FORCE IS
 CUT 30 PER GENT
Reduction From 750 to 56 Offices Made Necessary by Failure of Congress
 to Provide Funds
1y Assocjatgd Press

Washington. March 13.--Reduc-
 ton of so per cent In the force Of
 the United states cmpioymen scrv-
 ice. effective March 22. was an
 nounced today by Director General
 Densmore. This was made ncces- sary, 1t was explained. by the faii-
 urc of Congress to provide funds to
 continue the work.
 MT. Densmore said the number of em- ployment offices would be reduced from 750 to 56, but that none of the work in direct connection with the return of soldiers and sailors to civilian employ ment would be discontinued. ''rhe reduction of the employment service cuts it to the bone," said Mir Densmore.
 "The special work in placing ensi- neers and other highly trained men persons handicapped by old age and physical disa bility, vocational guidance for juveniles, the trade tests for skilled workers and the training of employ ment examiners must all cease March 2.,
 ONLY SKELETON LEFT
 "The maintenance of skeleton ad- ministrative organiza ton in Washing ton and the states and the continuance of camp representatives, soldiers pu reaus and the clearance system. to- gether with 56 branch offices in strate- gic industrial centers will, however. permit the directing of national e~. pIoyment work by the employment service and enable it to resume full operation when Congress appropriates funds"
 Secretary Wilson in a statement tonight explaining the plan for retaining skele- ,,i1, ion, of ho 1iSrlnSa6 that the service could not draw on Presi- dent Wilson's s1O0,0oO,0t0 war emergency fund because practically all of it has been spent or pledged.
 After the urgency deficiency bill was killed in the filibuster in the closing hours of the last session of the Senate. Secretary Wilson appee:ed to the Presi- dent
 He received sthis reply by radio from the presidential ship George Washington al sea:
 FUND EXHAUSTED
 Regret nothing so much as the dis continuance of the work of the employ ment service bureau, but the fact is that including pledges made, my fund Is prac- tically exhausted. What remains would not suffice to maintain the bureau, and to my great grief l see no escape from d:sbandment l hope that 1t will be possible to keep a skeleton organization. .
 Secretary Wilson announced that the endowment service would be reorganiZed or basis that would enable it to utii- ize the voluntary services of individuals and organizations to continue the work of fin6.ng places for returned soldiers and sailors.
 slFortunately." said Secretary Wilson. "the employment service. in carrying out the work intrusted to it's charge had or ganized 1875 community boards, nearly 2O0o bureaus for returning soldiers with out expense to the government, and had secured the cooperation of the council of national defense, the state and mu- nicipal employment agencies, the five great welfare associations, engaged in war work and many other church and well fare organizations in locating work for -dcmobilized soldiers and war workers. The hearty cooperation of these agencies has been assured in tiding over the in terim until the reconvening Of Congress.
 eve shall maintain our representa- lives in the demobilizat tion camps and shall keep right on getting the records of soldiers returning on the transports and forwarding them to the bureau for returning soldiers and will main tain an administrative organization in Washington, and each of the states to idirect the work and about 30 employ ment offices in the principal industrial centers.
 "Inasmuch as the deficiency item passed the House and was unanimous ly reported by the appropriations committee in the Senate. we are con- fident that as soon as Congress meets sufficient funds will be made avail able to continue the work which Is being done in finding positions for returning soldiers and civilian work CTS"
 While MT Densmore was sending or ders today to federal directors of the
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