Evening star., 1932-07-08
FEDERAL FWE-DAY
WEEK FURLOUGH
PLAN SHARPENING
Personnel Council Preparing
Recommendation for Sub
mission to Hoover.
WOULD BE UNFEASIBLE
IN SOME BRANCHES
Further Thought Required as to
Effect on Government Machinery
With Part Inactive.

The proposal to administer the for
Tough plan by inaugurating the five-day
week wherever feasible in the Govern
ment service comes this afternoon be-
fore the Council of Personnel Admin
lstration, to be whipped into final shape
before going to President Hoover. The
President directed departmental off,
Gals week ago to formulate recon-
mendations for administering this phase
Of the economy program.
The meeting of the council was called
for pm. at the Commerce Depart
ment it not being possible to get the
members together earlier because of
the semi-weekly meeting of the cabinet,
which Is part Of the council
Cabinet Hears Progress.
The progress that is being made in
formulation of the plan was understood
to have been reported at the cabinet
meeting by Secretary Of Commerce La
mont, who, in addition to being on the
council, is likewise a member of the
councils Executive Committee, which is
turning over the program to the coun-
ell.
The President was said to have been
advised Of the intention to give the
recommendation to him as soon as
possible for consideration in issuing an
executive order covering the matter.
The council is expected to be ready
to present the proposition to President
Hoover by Monday, though 1t was said
this morning there are a number of
points that must be ironed out.
Plan Would Be Limited.
1t will not, as has been said, be pos
sible to apply the five-day week through
out the Government establishment, be-
cause many Of the agencies have con-
tinuing services that must be main
tained, and lack of funds precludes
staggering the work.
Further thought also must be given,
1t was ssid, to the general effect that
would be created in the service with
part Of the Government machinery
silent on Saturday mornings and the
remainder in operation.
Another point still to be cleared up Is
that Of administering the furlough plan
IN those groups Of workers to whom the
f1ve-day week could not apply.
Notice to Postmasters.
In this connection, the Post Office De-
partment, which is one of those agencies
which could not apply the scheme, to-
day sent cut instructions to all post
masters to furlcugh without pay, for q
maximum of five days this month, all
classes of employees except supervisors
and rural carriers, who with postmas-
ters, get a pay cut instead of furlough.
Instructions Of like tenor have also
gone to the railway mail service.
These furloughs must be granted
with minimum expenditure for sub
% Enf6 hA
which was signed by Arch Colnan.
First Assistant Postmaster General, and
appeared In the daily postal bulletin.
1t added in explanation: This is the
lighteSt period of the year and every
effort must be exerted to grant the fur
loughs made mandatory under the law
during the Summer months No fur
loughS will be granted in December.
The bulletin also advised that the
question of uniform system relative
to paying Of wages is now under con-
sideration. and that it is hoped I'VE
will be able to permit the deduction
each month of one-twelfth of the man
catcry annual deduction from the SAL
airy of each employe on account of the
furlough, and then arrange furloughs
to meet the needs of the service"
Practice to Conform.
1t was said at the department that
in taking action in advance OF any for
NAL regulations, it was not intended
ito jump the gun" and that practice
in the department will be made 10
conform to any uniform system adopted
1t was amplified however, that be-
cause July is the lightest month in the
postal service, and that business grows
heavier as the year goes along, it
was decided in the interest of econ
omy to absorb as much Of the furlough
as possible now. No move is being
made in the department service.
If the department is permitted tc
make monthly deductions, but allocate
the furloughs as desired, it would give
its employees the opportunity to ac-
cumulate Ieave-a procedure which
would presumably be possible at any
place where the five-day plan was not
adopted, but which would be barred
wherever The scheme may be put into
effect, the mandatory furlough being
taken up over the week ends.
The proposed program was given
TO the Executive Committee yesterday
by the Project Committee of the coun-
Gil, which for two days sat at the Civil
Service Commission with representa-
tlves Of the various Government agen-
cieS going over the situation.
Furloughs Under Plan.
In its final shape, the administration
OF the furlough plan must care not only
for the 24-day -without-pay, but
also for those furloughs which are ap-
piled TO avert dismiSSals and at the
same time keep within appropriations.
In some instances, it has been brought
out. it is not going to be possible to
accomplish this latter aim.
Meanwhile, with ofhcialdom in gen.
eral working on the administrative end
Of the economy bill, word was being
awaited from Controller General Nc
Carl on regulations for the fiscal
phases. These regulations were ex-
pected this week.
NAVAL DECEDHE FL NFno