The New York herald., 1921-08-02
10000 U. S. CLERKS
TOLOSE JOBS SOON
Will Be Dismissed at Quickly
as Possible to Get Back on
Pre-War Level.
Special Despatch 70 THE NEW YoRK HERALD.

Special Despatch 10 THE NEW ycRK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c.. Aug. I.
Approximately. 10000 Government
employees in Washington and through
out the country are slated to be dis
missed as rapidly as possible. so there
may be speedy return 10 pre-war en-
ployment by the Government. The Ad-
ministration has adopted policy of
striving for the pre-war allotment of
clerks even before the reorganization
programme now being worked out Is put
IN operation. 1t is in furtherance OF the
general economy policy.
These employees, for the most part,
arc IN the civil service. The total num-
Der OF civil service employees rs around
100000 now. whereas before the war the
number was 100000.
The first step In retrenchment with
regard to discharge of clerks came on
July 1, but it appeared to-day. when
1000 more employees were dropped, that
the process is far too slow In conse-
quence. policy was adopted to get back
to the pre-war level by December 1, IL
possible
Secretary Weeks took the lead to-day
in demanding reductions OF civilian per-
sonnet issuing orders to chiefs OF all
branches of the War Department to get
back as rapidly as possible to the pre-
war level. This same policy is TO be fol-
lowed almost Immediately by heads of
other Government departments.
1T has been brought to the attention
of the Secretary of War;" Mr. Weeks
announced, that, notwithstanding ef-
forts made for reduction Of the civilian
force of the War Department and IN the
military service generally. there still re-
mained on July /. 1921. "a total of civil
War Department Of es.932, which con-
stitutes a reduction of about 22la per
cent. of the total since March 1, 1891
While appreciating tho fact that
large facilities and supplies left over
from the war still exist, and provisions
for maintenance and protection thereof
must be made. 1t is certain that by bet
ter distribution and organization of civil
ian employees still greater reduction In
IOTCe can Dc uaQe which IL CaTeIully
studied and put into effect will reduce
the civilian personnel In each branch and
department comparable TO the civilian
force employed prior to the war.
The Secretary OF War directs that a
gradual reduction in civilian personnel
ba effected so as TO reduce the number
by December 81, 1921. In such manner as
to effect a saving equal to that realized
between March /. 1891 and July ]. 1921
on the total OF army civilian employees.
In order that clearer conception of the
civilian employee situation may be OBJ
tanned the Secretary of War directs
that beginning with the month of July
monthly reports be submitted.
Whether II actually Will be possible to
get back to pre-war level officials are
unable TO say at this time. but that is
the goal for the present Since the be-
ginning OF the war the Government has
gone into several new enterprises. in
Guiding the Bureau of War Risk In
surance and the Shipping Board. with
radical expansions In other lines. partic-
ularly In the Treasury Department II
IL Is impossible 70 get back to this level
now there Is little doubt that II will be
possible when the reorganization pro-
gramme now being worked out by the
Joint Congressional Committee on Reor-
ganization Is complete.
According to the best figures available
to-day at the Civil Service Commission
there are a little less than $4,000 clerks
in Washington alone. which Is about
as many as there were at the beginning
Of the war. This. on the other hand
is a reduction of almost 10000 from the
time OF the armissice.