Evening star., 1926-10-17
By WALTER r. McCALLUM.

6x WALTER Il, McCALLUM.
"HE graceful. scientific and
painless reduction" in Govern
ment personnel proposed by
Il, Gen. Herbert NJ. Lord at the
last meeting of the Govern
ment business organization in June,
With the full Endorsement of President
Coolidge, is proceeding throughout the
Federal service with the impetus
gained by complete knowledge of a
task that must be accomplished. The
thrift club of new pattern"
launched by the budget director als
ready has resulted in considerable
monetary saving to the Government
and may, on the basis of unofficial
figures, exceed the saving of $40 ,000,-
900 in salaries Gen. Lord hoped
would be made for the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1927.
1t has not been altogether painless
so far, nor have the employees who
found their official heads chopped off
regarded it as scientific or graceful.
1t has, however, achieved throughout
the service the result aimed at-a re-
duction of per cent in salaries over
the period since June 81. 1925.
Not altogether new. Gen. Lord in
tended his thrift club---the "2 per
cent club" as it has been referred
toto go even farther along the road
to Federal economy than the program
of not filling Government vacancies
inaugurated three years ago. Its eff
cheney has been proven, according to
several department heads, by the no.
table reductions that have been made
In Federal personnel since the club
was inaugurated.
1000 Drop Recorded.
Although figures on the entire Fed
eral establishment have not been COM
piled officially by the Civil Service
Commission since June 80 last. every
indication points to a heavy reduction
In personnel-reductions that by next
December may bring the Government
pay roll well below the mark of
54S,077 persons it reached at the close
of the last calendar year. The figure
on June 80 of this year is more than
1000 below that for June 30, 1925, and
by next June, granted the thrift club
functions steadily through the remain
der of the fiscal year. should be con-
siderably under the 5000 figure of
June 80 last. William &. Deming
civil service commissioner, believes
every bureau head and every admins
trative officer is giving hearty coop
Grafton to the President and the
budget director in their campaign to
reduce the Federal pay roll
Ten years ago the Government rolls
reached the total of 43S,057 in a year
which had no postwar obligations.
smaller internal development than
now and no bureaus which grew out
OF the war, such as exist today. Two
years and a few months later, on Ar
mistice day. 1918, the Federal estab-
lishment employed 917.760 persons,
some predict will be reached within
25 years.
Less than two years later ii had
been cut to 691,116, and on July 81,
1921, had dropped to a74S2. 1t has
never been below the 500. 900 mark
since, the lowest point having been
reached at the close of the calendar
year 1923. when 544.671 persons drew
salaries from the executive branches
Of the Government.
Addressing the business organiza-
ton, on June 21 last. with every ad-
ministrative officer in Washington in
attenda nce. Gen. Lord spoke follows:
"Appreciatlng the difficulty YOU may
have the coming year and the year
following in keeping within the Presi-
dents limitations on expenditures and
estimates. the budget director has
been casting about for methods and
means of assisting you in solving
what know is going to prove a zeal
problem. His first thought is per
sonnel. to which the President has
called your attention This is always
fertile and legitimate field for saw
Ing.
Had 656.672 i'm 1918.
November II, 1918-Armistice day
we had 656.672 employees in the Fed
Neral executive civil service. exclusive
Of the postal service. April 80, 1926,
we had 246.419 people on the roll,
reduction of 410.253 employees at an
annual saving of $738 900, 900 State.