Evening star., 1925-03-11
BY WILLIAM p. HELM. JR.

AS the third step in bringing about
substantial reduction in the num-
Der OF Federal employees on the pub
lie pay roll President Coolidge ap-
parently will face soon the alterna
tive of lengthening present hours of
labor or curtailing, in part or full. en-
tire branches of the service. A study
of the Governments $4,000 or so va
ried activities leads to the conclusion
that the working force already has
been reduced to the point where
heavy cuts will result in either gen.
eral overtime or work undone.
Before our entry into the World
War the Federal force numbered 438,-
600 persons. When the armistice was
signed, Civil Service compilations dis
close, the force had risen to $4,000
On December 81, 1928, it reached it's
lowest total of 544,671. Between that
date and Armistice day there had been
a steady and continuing reduction.
Since that date there has been a
steady and continuing increase, for
reasons already mentioned.
Present Force Shows Excess.
Today the Federal force stands at
about III, 900 more than it's total just
prior to the declaration of war
against Germany. That was nearly
eight years ago. In the meantime
at least three new branches of the
service, each born of the war, nave
sprung into existence. These are the
Veterans Bureau, the Shipping BOARD
and the Federal Board of Vocauonal
Educate These three new agencies
carry about $500 names on their
pay rolls. The Railroad Administra-
ton, another creation of the war. now
engaged in liquidation, employs about
400 persons.
Thus il will be seen, about 4U,OUu
persons, or more than one-third OF
the III, 900 increase, constitute her-
itage from the war. There are otner
increases inherited from the war. too.
notable among them being greatly
swollen force of Treasury Department
employees now engaged in clerical
work, the aftermath of the Liberty
loans and other wartime financial ac-
tiyities. Then, again, there are stln
other minor agencies, such as the war
Finance Corporation, whose force, all
told, mounts to proportions worth
considering.
And a strikingly large increase
since 1917 is noted in the mammoth
Post Office Department force, whose
work has grown by leaps and bounds
since the decla ration of war. All told,
it would be reasonably accurate TO
conclude that there is no ldT5 loIce
of federal employees today engaged In
ante-war activities than there was
before the war. The increase In the
force is almost wholly due to the
growth Of the postal service and &C
tivities resulting from the war.
Overtime Work Now the Rule.
A. a result of the reduction in per-
sonnel already accomplished, overtime
work Is the rule in more than one
great governmental establishment at
Washington. That situation comes up
whenever a bureau or department
head wants more money for clerical
help. The first thing the Budget Bu-
reau asks him Is, How much over
time are you working now?' If he
can't show considerable overtime per-
formance he doesn't get additional
help.
Thus the day is fast approaching
when further big reductions viii
mean general overtime, or work left
undone And while no special consid-
Grafton has been given-as yet-to
lengthening the hours of labor, the
subject has occurred to the Budget
Bureau, and the law governing the
hours of labor has been studied. Ap-
parently the President seems to be
without power to increase the work
ing day without additional legislation.
At the present time the daily hours