The Washington times., 1919-07-09

FIR" EXTRA
WARWORKERS
Threatens Drastic Measures
Unless Steps Are Taken to
Cut Down Govt. Expenses.

4 threat that Congress would ap-
point a commission TO diA charge the
thousands OF extra war workers en-
poyed by the Government depart
ments in Washington unless some
definite step is taken in the near
future to cut down expenses, was
made in the Senate late yesterday by
Senator Smoot OF Utah, chairman Of
the Public Buildings Commission.
Calling attention to the congested
conditions in the various bureaus
which the Public Buildings Commits
sion is seeking to remedy, Senator
Smoot particularly criticised the War
Risk Bureau, where he claimed "em-
ployes are falling over each other
"In my opinion" said Senator
Smoot. ''the only way we will ever
get rid of these extra employees is
for the Appropriations Committees
of the two Houses to refuse to APP
propriate, or to have Congress ap-
point some commission with authorI-
ity to discharge them"
CommISHiOn Lacks Authority.
The Public Buildings Commission
has no authority to take testimony
and ascertain whether the present
number of employees in the depart
ments is necessary, Mr.. Smoot re-
piled to q query by Senator Hitch
cock.
The net saving to the Government
in rental charges in Washington. as
a result Of the survey of office space
made by the Public Buildings Com.
mission. is 1856, 56O.76. according to
the commissions report submitted to
the Senate. The annual rental paid
by thesGovernment June 1, 1919, was
1864. $500. as compared with an an
nual rental OF $60T 1884 on July ].
This saving in rentals represents the
vacating of 410,132 square feet of Of
fee space.
Savings Are Detailed.
Senator Smoot reported the follow
ing changes in the various bureaus:
Agriculture Department, 32,9S0
square feet vacated; S16,9S0 saved in
rent.
Alien Property Custodian. 1852
square feet vacated; 1920 saved.
Committee on Public Information,
all space vacated; $4,000 saved.
Federal Trade Commission, 1900
square feet vacated; S12, 600 saved.
Government Printing Office. 27.0T3
square feet vacated: S4.793.76 saved.
Department OF Labor. S6,550 square
feet; $29,914.36 saved.
State Department, 1880 square
feet vacated: $4,000 saved.
Shipping Board, 133,976 square feet
vacated; $21O.1O5.5O saved.
War Department. 109,S03 square
feet vacated; $50 ,367.0S saved.
Move To U. s. Buildings.
Under the new arrangement by the
Public Buildings Commission. the
office forces of the State Department,
the Shipping Board and Federal
Trade Commission hereafter will be
housed in Government-owned build
ings.
The War Risk Bureau came in for
severe criticism by Senators Pomer-
enc Of Ohio. Smoot, and others. who
laid stress on crowded conditions in
the building as a result Of an excess
sive number OF employees
Senator Smoot declared the bureau
would not get any appropriation from
Congress for 5000 additional en-
ployes. who. reports he has received
indicate. are to be added to the Of
flee force
81 noticed in the press the other
day" said Senator Smoot. that they
were advertising for 1000 more
stenographers. and when one OF the
clerks OF the bureau came TO my Of
flee the other morning pleading for
more space he advised me that with
in the next thirty days they would
have TO have 5000 additional EN-
ployes.
Held Out Little Hope.
81 told him I did not believe Con-
gress was going to allow any such
increase in the employees OF this bu-
reau. and that the best thing for him
to do was to begin cutting down,
rather than to increase. the number
of employees. As far as the Public
Buildings Commission is concerned
we are not going to provide space
for 5000 additional employees for that
bureau
The Public Buildings Commission
has an appropriation of $4,000 for
expenses. Senator SmoOt told senate,
and has only expended $3.50 in &C
completing work that already has
saved the Government 1856. 56O.16 an
nually.