Evening star., 1924-03-17
AUTHORITY. TO PUT
OFFICERS IN CIVIL
POSTS TO Be ASKED
Weeks Going to Congress for
Power Denied in Ruling
by Controller.
KIRBY LEAVES BUREAU.
BUT MAY GIVE ADVICE
Engraving Personnel Garry On"
Without Acting Director-Suc-
cessor Not Selected.

- Confronted with the necessity of re-
turning to active military duty be-
fore June 80, number of army of
ficers now occupying civil posts, Sec
retary of War Weeks today announc
ed he will ask Congress to give the
President authority to continue these
officers in the civilian service where
ever needed.
The Secretary's statement followed
Controller General McCarl's ruling in
the case of Maj. Wallace w. Kirby.
acting director of the bureau of en-
craving and printing, who today went
back to military duty in order not to
lose his military pay and allowances.
About ten or twelve other Army Of
ficers and two or three naval officers
are affected by the ruling. Some OF
these are understood to be in highly
responsible positions, in Washington.
Important Issues mt Stake.
Relief from their present duties,
Secretary Weeks said. might prove
temporarily embarrassing to the de-
partments concerned. Because Of the
general principle involved. as well as
the important interests at stake in
the hands of these officers now, the
Secretary thought it desirable to OBJ
tain legislation if possible to remedy
the situation.
The controller had ruled that Off
GERS of the Army. under the law, can
not legally perform civil services.
unless specifically authorized.
The necessity of relieving Maj.
Kirby from the bureau of engraving
and printing, Secretary Weeks said.
was source of regret not only to
the Treasury Department but to him
self as well. Maj. Kirby has been
relieved from all official connection
with the bureau, the Secretary eX-
duties in charge of the engineer re-
production plant at washington par
racks.
May Still Give Advice.
Notwithstanding that the officer no
longer had any official connection
with the bureau, Secretary Weeks
said he could see no possible objection
to his giving the Treasury ofheiais
any information or advice they desire
after office hours at the Washington
barracks and during his own time,
just as he might do for any one else
who sought his advice under similar
conditions.
The Treasury was understood today
to be placed in somewhat OF guam
dairy by the relief of Maj. Kirby from
the dictatorship of the bureau. No
offciaI announcement of any kind
was forthcoming, but it vas leaned
that there was a hope MAJ. hlroS
might unofficially advise in the oper-
alton of the bureau until II couio De
fully placed in harmonious operation
Return of fourteen chiefs OF the
bureau, who had been ousted in
March. 1922, with former director
Wilmeth, had restored much or the
had succeeded admirably in the opin-
ion of Treasury officials, in improving
conditions there in general
Expects Smoothe Operation.
II was expected, however, that sew
eral more weeks, and perhaps months
might be required to place it in the
condition in which the Treasury
hopes to turn it over to new direc-
tor.
The big plant was in full operation
today under the active control of
Assistant Director Twyman, and
Superintendent of Work John ]. Dew
inv Mr.. Twyman went in as assistant
director under Maj. Kirby and mas
thorough understanding of the poll
cies intended to be carried out
Mr.. Deviny, one of the restored
chiefs. is intimately acquaintea" i,l cd
entire technical procedure of the bu-
reau. So it was anticipated by those
who know conditions at the plant
that, even should Maj. Kirby be pre-
vented from return to the bureau
it would continue to operate Ell
fectively.
In view of the statements of Sec
retary Weeks today, however, 1t was
understood Mai. Kirby might be al
lowed to advise the Treasury IN the
operation of the bureau. Conse-
ouently the department may be able
to continue to run things as at pres
ent until a permanent director can
be obtained. There was no indica-
ton today as to who might be chosen
for that post.
Won't Affect ID. c. Omcers.
The four officers of the Engineer
Corps of the Army detailed as off
cials of the District government, will
not be affected by the ruling of Con
troller General Mccarl, in the opinion
of local authorities.
Mai. Daniel J. Donovan, auditor,
pointed out today that Congress has
made specific provision in the law
establishing the local form of gov
ernment for the assignment of mem
bers of the Engineer Corps of the
Army to direct the engineering
branches of the District government.
Mr. McCarl's ruling, it was said, Is
intended to apply to cases through
out the federal government where
Congress has not provided for the
detailing of Army men.
The law creating the District gov
ernment provides that the President
of the United States shall detail an
Engineer Corps man of the rank Of
captain or higher to be Engineer
Commissioner Of the city. That po-
sition is now held by Maj ]. Franklin
Bell
1t was further provided in sub
sequent enactment that three addi-
tional Engineer Corps men could b.
detailed to the District building as
assistants to the Engineer Commits
sioner. Those positions are now held
by Maj Raymond Wheeler, Maj. w.
H. HOlcombe and Can't. John L. Wood.