Evening star., 1925-03-10

The commission estimates that the
Information will be received early
enough each month to enable 1t TO
compile the figures and place them In
Gen. Lords hands not later than the
10th. Gen. Lord will transmit them
without delay to the White House.
Thus, right after his inauguration,
President Coolidge can engage ac-
lively in one of the self-appointed
tasks dearest to his heart-active
work looking to further tax reduc-
ton. There is no doubt that the
Pre- sident will go carefully into the
reports, for on this subject he is pos
sessed of an interest deep and COM
plete. Having announced his policy
to reduce the Federal personnel, the
President expects to carry 1t out.
More than that, he expects his sub
ordinates to assist him wholeheartedly.
Must Explain Increases.
For that reason, any department or
office registering an increase in per-
sonnel from month to month, even
of a handful of workers, will be
under the necessity of making COM
plete and satisfactory explanation to
the President, through the Bureau
of the Budget, of the conditions MAX
ing the increase necessary. Reasons
VIII be asked, no excuses. And 1t
VIII take a compelling and convinc-
ing reason to justify an increase.
The President wants to see de-
creases, not increases. If it could
be done, he would like to see the
personnel, exclusive of the postal
service. brought down to the point
where it rested IA months ago. or to
a total of 250,3s5 persons. That
would involve reducing the force by
more than 1000 persons. He is not
making that achievement his goal,
however. 1t may not be possible, but
III IT could be done without hurting
the service White House approval un-
doubtedly would follow.
The Civil Service Commission is en-
gagged in checking the first returns
received under the Presidents re-
quest The chances are that the fig
ures Will run, in their totals, a little
higher than the total shown for De-
cember 81 last. In other words, the
prospect is that a slight increase will
be shown over the number of per-
sons employed two months ago.
Last Showing of Kind.
If SO. it will be the last time for
many months to come--barring great
emergency or an act of Congress
that the comparative figures will
sHo" an increase. The mere fact that
a report must be made monthly to the
President will. of itself. prevent an
increase, in the judgment of compe-
tent observers. Official Washington
knows that President Coolidge is dead
In earnest on this subject And it
viii fall in line when the record has
to come along every thirty days.
That is different from the old way of
counting jobs every six months.
This correspondent is convinced
too, that no single department in
making out its monthly report will
show an increase in its personnel for
the second time. That, of course. bars
Any one who was privi-
Legged to see the Bureau of the Bud
get in action when it first learned
that the Federal force had been in
creased nearly 1000 names during
1924 would share the correspondents
opinion
AS the President said, separating
the Federal job and the jobholder is
an unpleasant and difficult task. 1t is
hard on the separated individuals, un-
doubtedly. But in the long run, as the
President sees the situation, it will
help to bring about another reduc-
ton in taxes. Hence it Will be done
beginning at once.
(Mr. Helms next and coucIudtur
article will discuss other means of
reducing Government employees or re-
longer hours.)
L