Evening star., 1933-04-21

such move would impair the eficiency
OF the bureaus of statistics, accounts.
wee locomotive inspection, safety
ano finance, by taking them from a
continuing Independent body and put
tlng them under supervision Of q cab
met oficer Of limited tenure probably
unframed In interstate transportation,
ana instead OF producing economy would
produce waste Of time and money.
News Of the proposal embodied In the
Independent offices bill brought a storm
OF criticism in ranking Army circles. II
was viewed as club to render useless
continued opposition to the Presidents
economy program which has for its OBJ.
lectlVe the saving Of $144, 4,000, 900 In the
war Departments 1894 appropriations.
II mas been reported in reliable quar-.
terS that the Presidents advisers have
recommended cut of $50 900 600 for
muutary activities and 100000 for
the public works service conducted by
Army engineers.
Particular resentment was on the
surface IN Army circles. because, &C.
coroing to interpretations OF the bill,
sne PRESIDENT has aimed his retirement
the administration also presented the
Dill to Congress without consultation
WIN Army omcials has stirred up re-
sentiment
See Joker In Measure.
The joker in the bill. according to
Ine views OF ranking Army officials, is
tne section granting the President
power to modify or cancel any contract
to which the United States is a party.
1ney interpret this to mean that en-
ustment contracts Of as many men in
the service as the President NAV so de-
sire can be Cancelled. They said it also
gives the President the power to cam
Gel commissions held by Army officers.
Army circles said that from expert
ence with contract revocations follow.
ing the World War the administration
woulo nave to set up gigantic bureau
70 carry out necessary litigations Serv-
zee circles predicted the industrial world
- wen as labor organizations will wage
pltter hight against this paragraph.
A demand that Congress- bring The
night Of cutting appropriations and Nv
ing hour pay in the Armys Air Service
INTO the open for a thorough thrashina
OUT was reported by officers to be under
way: 1t was pointed out that the morale
OF the air branch of the Army is now at
low cob and further reductions prob
ABLY would have a disastrous effect
among the personnel. The sum re-
qulred during this fiscal year for flying
pay so. OF oa. omcers was approximately
onicers said in view of this amount
II Is not believed economical for Con-
gress to decrease the value of the
natlonal defense provided by the Army
AIR Corps by losing both the services
and flying interests of many enthlsi-
aStic flyers by reducing their coronan.a
ton for this duty. They asserted
Iurther that such procedure is not
true economy. The officers were of the
opinion that the proposition of reduce
mg flying pay was due principally to
the favorable showing made in COM
merclal flying and because attention is
being focused upon methods which NAV
be used for decreasing Government ex-
penditures. They further asserted that
1t Is incorrect to compare military avi-
alton with commercial aviation in re-
spect to accidents
Meantime, Secretary Of War Dern
said the Army's economy plan still is in
neDulouS state" He announced that
as yet no date was in sight when
denntte statement could be made.
The Secretary, who has been working
on the subject with Budget Director
Douglas, said he was not prepared at
this time to say to what extent the
Army's personnel might be affected in
the proposed cuts. Neither would the
War Department head give any intima-
ton OF what branches Of the service
would be hardest hit.
1T Is an intricate and complicated
problem to work out and I cannot say
at this time when we will solve this
problem" the Secretary said.