Evening star., 1933-06-22
INTERIOR WORKERS
WILL Be REDUCED
Department Will Resort to
DismiSSaIs Rather Than
Rotative FurIoughs.

| With s11,OO0,O0o Topped from the
funds made available for 1884 by the
last Congress. the Interior Department
will be forced to resort to dismissals
rather than use generally the rotative
| furlough plan, in order to keep within
its appropriation, it was announced to-
day.
| At the same time it was added, an
effort will be made to soften the blow
by placing efficient workers in the new
Federal agencies being established.
Department officials would not even
hazard guess as to the number OF
employees to be cut off. that particular
point being under study at present. 1t
was said, however, that the retrench-
ment would be equitably between de-
partmental service, in which there are
5000 workers, and the field, In which
there are 5000.
1t was thought that probably a
month would elapse before the depart
ment knows exactly what will be done,
but the general program to be followed
nence of the new fiscal year.
Some Furloughs.
While general application of the
furlough plan, for which provision was
made in the independent Offices bill. is
overheard because of the extent of the
cut which reached every bureau of the
department, furloughs will be applied
in some instances.
1t was brought out, too, that the
department expects to avert a number
of dismisSals which otherwise would
have been forced by retiring elderly
workers. In this connection, it was
made known that the new executive
order, reducing and eliminating the So
called longevity credit, is expected to
figure materially in permitting the re-
tirement of workers who otherwise
would not have been reached on the
separation list.
Secretary of Labor Perkins announced
this afternoon that her department
would operate during the coming fiscal
year on $3,000,00O less than the
S13,000,000 for 1884. She said she had
not worked out plans as to how this cut
would affect the personnel of the de-
partment. She indicated, however, that
she would attempt as far as possible to
keep all employees on the rolls by apply
ing administrative furloughs.
A statement from the Interior De-
partment outlining the program is as
follows:
The Department Of the Interior will
operate on an expenditure basis during
the fiscal year 1884 of about S44 500 900,
which is almost S11 900, 900 under the
amount appropriated and the available
unexpended balances. These figures dc
not include expenditures for Boulder
Dam, which have not been reduced,
since it is public works project.
Reduction Necessary.
I'm order to keep within the amount
allotted for expenditure, reduction in
force will be necessary, but the number
is at this time undetermined An effort
will be made toward uniform and CO.
ordlnated action for the whole depart
ment to prevent inequities as between
employees. There will be no general ro-
tated furlOughS. After the necessary re-
duction in force has been made by the
retirement of 30-year employees where
practical and the separation of unnec-
| eSsary or less efficient employees, indi-
vidual furloughS for short periods in
order to retain a necessary staff will be
approved by the Secretary on proper
Justification.
Where the force must be permanently
reduced, actual separations will be
made, but where there is a reason
able expectation of a need for the en-
ployeS later in the fiscal year, indefinite
individual furloughS instead of separa-
tions will issue An effort will be mace
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