Evening star., 1933-06-16
PLAN FURLOUGHS
TO CUT D|SM|SSALS
Administrative Officers Pre-
pairing Program to Operate
"Spread-W Work" System.

With rotative furloughs sanctioned by
passage of the independent offices bill,
administrative officers of the Govern
nent today were turning their attention
to plans for putting into effect this
spread work" principle to avoid dis
nlissals under reduced appropriations.
Because of the uncertainty that had
surrounded passage of the bill until it
was gotten cut of the way just before
Congress adjourned, little headway had
been made in the various agencies
toward reaching any definite conclu-
sion. a survey of the departments dis
closing only the Treasury as being in
O position to predict its course.
Per Cent in Furloughs.
There, it was said, the furloughs
would approximate two weeks, this
being estimated to save about per
cent on its appropriation.
The Treasury, it was explained, figures
10 bring expenditures 25 per cent under
the appropriation for the current year,
thus conforming to the campaign prom
ise of President Roosevelt for saving of
that amount in Government costs. This
would be divided-15 per cent pay cut:
5 per cent furloughs, and the other per
cent by non-filling of vacancies, reduc-
tion in travel allowances and such
other economies as it is possible to
effect, always with the idea of avoiding
dismissals. One branch of the Treasury
is being hit under the economy wave,
however, 500 enlisted men Of the Coast
Guard being due for dismissal by June
20. These removals are already under
way, and will cut the force to about
10000.
Many Departments Uncertain.
At the Department of Labor. while
definite plans have not been made, it
was said that, in general, the use of
frrIoughs will be comparatively light.
Within the next few days Secretary Of
Labor Perkins is expected to outline just
what is to be done in her department.
The Interior Department also ex-
pected to have an idea of what was to
be done In the next couple of days, but
elsewhere there was uncertainty.
In one or two of the departments,
It was said at the Bureau of the
Budget, it had not been decided what
the expenditures in the next fiscal year
would be- All departmental appropria-
tions were passed by the last Con-
gress, but were. revised downward by
the new administration. Due to the
veto of the independent Offices bill by
President Hoover, the new Congress,
however, had the task Of revising the
sums carried in that measure.
One department in which it was
said today the appropriation to be al
lowed still was uncertain is Agriculture.
Some bureaus there face furloughs that
probably would have been unnecessary
under the previous appropriation, the
saving being effected by cutting down
the extra employment ordinarily af-
forded In the Summer.
Postal Service Not Affected.
The departmental service of the Post
Office Department will not be affected,
as it Is now and has been for some
years held to a minimum. In the postal
service itself, furloughs are to be ap-
piled, but Postmaster General Farley,
who sponsored the rotative furlough
plan, has not made known the extent
of these
Among the independent Offices, the
Bureau Of Valuation Of the Interstate
Commerce Commission apparently faces
the most rigorous application Of the
economy doctrine as the bureau appro-
priation of s2.750,00o for 1888 was cut
10 s1,000,000 for 1884, with the repeal
of the recapture act.
Valuation Staff Faces Cut.
The valuation staff now is 910 per-
sons, and on the face Of matters, 1t
was said today, it faces a heavy cut.
The Commission, however, has not de-
cided as to just what will be done.
The Civil Service Commission funds
also were cut sharply, but there, fur
lougas are to be depended upon en-
tirely to take up the slack
Until the Independent Offices bill went
through last night, those groups could
not be certain as to just what they
would receive and how it would be
spent.
Although the rotative furloughs are
not mandatory, it was the consensus
today Of administrative officers that they
would be used as far as possible
although, it was pointed out. where the
cut in funds went too deep, it would
not be possible to proceed on this basis
The retirement proviso is expected to
afford some relief, and the transfer Of
funds from one activity to another was
also seen as helpful factor