Evening star., 1932-07-07
ECONOMY PROGRAM
MAY COMPEL USE
of F|VE-DAY WEEK
DismissaIS Also May Result
From Appropriation Cuts
in Some Departments.

( The five-day week for Government
employees as far as is practicable to-
day loomed as the probable solution for
administering the furlough provisions
of the economy bill.
At the same time it became known
that appropriations have been slasheo
to such an extent that in some in
stances department heads believe II
will not be possible to extend the fur
Tough principle far enough to avert
dismissals. because of the amount of
payless leave that would be necessary
to accomplish this.
These were the developments out of
two-day meeting of the heads Of va
rious Federal establishments, directed
by President Hoover to formulate rec
concentrations for carrying out the new
retrenchment program.
Plan Due Next Week.
The recommendations are expected to
go to President Hoover the first part
Of next week from the Council of Per-
cabinet officers and other ranking off,
cials, which was created is months ago
by executive order to devise improved
methods of personnel administration.
II will then, of course, be up to the
President to order whatever he wants
done.
The final draft OF the proposed ad-
ministrative plan for the furlough,
xxrI1fn De m
f1ve-day principle be invoked where
feasible, was ready today for presenta-
ton TO the Executive Committee Of the
council from its Project Committee,
which for two days has sat at the Civil
Service Commission with representa-
tives of the various agencies, Federal
as well as District, mulling over the
problems involved.
Personnel OF Group.
This Executive Committee is COM
posed of the president of the Civil
Service Commission, who is chairman;
the Secretaries of Agriculture. Interior
and Commerce, and the chief of the
Bureau of Efficiency. The Civil Serv-
ice head also is chairman of the coun-
Gil, which. in addition to the cabinet
officers, includes the director of the
Bureau of the Budget, the chief of the
Bureau Of Ef1cienly the chairman OF
the Interstate Commerce Commission
and the administrator of veterans AZ
fairs
The Executive Committee, in turn, is
hopeful of turning the plan over to-
morrow to at least a representative
group of the council, and under such
an arrangement it is thought the final
recommendations will go before the
President by Monday.
The flve-day week, it is conceded
is rot without its handicaps. but con-
ferees are represented as believing il
offers the best solution under the fur
Tough plan.
Would Check Vacations.
1t would do away. it is pointed out
with extended vacations, unless they
were taken without pay; that is, in alb
sorbing over week ends the "a payless
days the furlough plan requires, II
would not be possible for the workers
to accumulate any leave period by
working for time for which they drew
no pay.
It is not possible, either, to apply the
idea, it is pointed out. for continuing
services, where constant employment is
necessary and where there are not suf.
ficient funds available TO stagger the
work.
The District of Columbia govern.
ment, with the exception of such serv-
ices as garbage or trash collection, il
was said, could go on the flye-day week
as could some other agencies, including
the Treasury. Labor, General Account
ing Office, Veterans Administration
Interstate c o m m cree Commission
Board of Meditation, Farm Board anC
Personnel Classification Board.
Dismissals Possible.
AS the result of the conferences, II
was brought out, just about half of the
! Government establishment will have
; to resort to more than the 24-day
statutory furlough to keep within their
! appropriation. and where such extended
furloughs would be so great as virtually
to amount to disruption of service, dis.
missals are in prospect.
1t was said in this connection thai
! Continued on Page 6, Column II