Evening star., 1932-04-20

There viii be a slight reduction In
the number OF employees estimated to
be furloughed by the Commerce De-
partment because ON July ! q total OF
1.500 temporary Census workers viii be
dismissed
Meanwhile Treasury Secretary Mills
today had virtually whipped into shape
a program for absorbing a 10 per cent
cut in the appropriations for the Treas
ury Department next year, and plans to
present 1t TO the Senate Appropriations
Committee next Friday.
Calling into conference q large gath
ering of his staff, including the Assist
ant Secretary and bureau chiefs, the
Secretary received and considered vari-
Gus proposals for accomplishing the 10
per cent cut.
Uniformity Planned.
II the reductions being made by the
Senate in appropriations for personal
services in Government departments
as q part of its program OF cutting
the supply bills by 10 per cent are
finally enacted into law, 1t appeared
fairly certain today that furloughs
rather than outright dismissal would
be the method adopted to keep within
the curtailed funds.
1t also was pointed out by ofhcials
who have been keeping In touch with
the progress of the economy discussion
that the standardized plan Of furloughs
incorporated in President Hoover's rec
concentrations to the House would not
be in addition to any furloughs that
would become necessary under the Sen
ates reduction In appropriations. In
stead. it would have the effect Of In
suring a uniform and equitable apph-
cation OF such furloughs to the Gov
eminent service instead of leaving each
department to adopt its own system of
keeping within the curtailed allotments
for salaries
The strongest reason, however, for
the belief that furloughs rather than
dismissals would be used to meet re-
duced appropriations Is the presence in
the appropriation bills thus far consid-
cred of clause to prevent the filling OF
vacancies during the coming fiscal year,
except in emergency cases, ana provid-
ing that the money thus saved be i'm
pounded In the Treasury.
II was pointed out today that, with
this restriction in existence, a depart
ment would not help itself any toward
keeping within a reduced appropriation
by dismisSals, since the funds resulting
from not filling vacancies would have
to be impounded.
Modification Made.
Senate and House conferees made q
slight modification in this restriction
by providing that such impounding
could be dispensed with only upon writ
ten order Of the President in such cases
as the public interest might require.
The Senate began several weeks ago
cutting appropriation bills for the De-
partments of Interior, State, Justice,
Commerce and Labor to the amount Of
10 per cent below the House figures,
and it has ordered the Appropriations
Committee to take a similar amount
from the Treasury-Post once bill as
passed by the House.
In arriving at this reduction Of 10
per cent in the total Of each bill, the
Senate reduced the lump sum allow
ances scattered through the bill for the
payment of salaries. These reductions
cannot have the effect of lowering the
salary rates, which are definitely fixed
by law. They mean these bureaus would
have less money in lump sum for the
employment OF personal services next
year.
William H. McReynolds, director of
classifice ton, said department heads
unques.icnably have the authority at
present to sd-pt furloughs instead of
making dismissa,s in order to stay
within a reduced appropriation. He
explained that the purpose and advan-
tage Of establishing a furlough plan
such as the one recommended In the
Presidents omnibus economy rcgram
is that it would apply the furloughs
to operate on the reduced appropriations
without dis6anding forces Of trained
employees.
One Cut Agreed On.
Although the 10 per cent reductions.
which led to curtailing the funds
recommended for personal services.
originated in the Senate after the
House had already made some reduc-
tions frcm the budget figures, the House
has already agreed to the Senate's 10
per cent cut on one bill-that for the
interior Department.
The Uniform furlough plan recon-
men,.ed by the administration would,
as explained in a White House state
msnt several days ago. apply the Ave
day week directly to per diem employees
by eliminating the equivalent OF Satur-
day halliday employment, that Is 26
days furlough In the year without pay.
The equivalent would be reached in the
months furlough without pay, the
month not necessarily to be continuous.
The plan e9ptemplates making this