Evening star., 1933-01-22
FEARS DISASTER
|FPAY |SCUT AGAIN
Ship inspection Official Holds
Service Conditions Near
Hysteria.

Legislative and administrative fur
loughs have produced a condition that
"is close to hysteria and there is no
need for hysteria in this country" as
serted Dickerson N. Hoover, assistant
director of the Commerce Departments
Bureau Of Navigation and Steamboat
Inspection, in testifying before the
House Appropriations Committee on the
departments 1884 supply bill.<
In the committees report made pub
lie today, Hoover warned the legisla-
that might occur on the high seas that
could have been avoided had his bu-
reaus field service been properly
equipped with ship inspectors.
Fears for Efieiency.
Beside the 30-day legislative furloughs
already taken by his employees, he said
from 10 to % days. He said he be-
lieved this plan all right up to a GER
tain point, adding that
II hold that if the Steamboat In
spection Service is to apply furlough
like that, it will destroy our efficiency.
We shall not have sufficient force to
carry on our inspections and that
means this: We shall have to discon-
tinue the intermediate inspections at
some places. Well, they might say, Il
you got through this year and you did
not have any disasters, it shows you
did not need the intermediate inspec-
ton.
We'll, it may not happen this year,
but as it goes along and the results ac-
cumulate, it will show its effect in dis
asters that could have been avoided.
"In the case OF clerks, the situation
Is even worse. With the shortage it
will be necessary for every clerk in the
field to take an administrative furlough
Of 500 days and 10 days legislative
furlough. in addition. Or if the Today
legislative furlough is applied it will
be necessary to furlough for six months
20 clerks-from January to June 80.
you can see that in the case of the
clerks in the field-there is no Office
at the present time which has, or ever
has had, the proper number of clerks.
If they are to be cut still further, what
is going to happen to this matter CT
making investigations and the like?
Most any OF these stenographers here
can tell you In the case of trials and
investigations, the notes roll up. They
must be Transcribed. That is what
these clerks in the field do. and yet
they are a poorly paid lot Of clerks
Wonders Why They Stay.
Il wonder why they stay. The do
go out at times to admiralty firms and
the like to get positions that pay d
great deal better.
Il am not arguing against the fur
| lough as reasonably applied but we
must apply it this way or dismiss But
the effect of it to date is bad for this
reason: There is all over this country
today feeling of uncertainty. 1t is
not as bad as it was. but it is still bad.
and that uncertainty comes about by
; lack of knowledge of what is going to
happen.
"As 1 go into the field, they say
What Is going to happen to us?' Are
We going to lose our positions?' l do
not tell them what I tell you here
Eventually the order must be issued
and it goes out, but l say to them that
we have hopes that something better
is in store for us. That is true as to
conditions, and it is true as to matters
stated in the Presidents message.
Il am not arguing against the clerks
doing their part of the cut. but it pro-
duces a condition that is close to hys-
terra and there is no need for hysteria
in this country"