Evening star., 1933-06-19
CIVILIANS IN ARMY
T0L0SE POSITIONS
IN ECONOMY MOVE
a 400 Outside of District and
400 in Capital Are
Slated to Go.
TEN PER CENT REDUCTION
TO BE EFFECTIVE JULY
Dismissals Here Expected to Be
Less Because of Technical
Nature of Work.

AS part Of the Army plans for saw
ing $50,000,000 in the coming fiscal
year, it was learned today that officials
are figuring tentatively on 10 Der
cent reduction in civilian personnel,
which would mean dismissal after july
l OF approximately 4,400 employees out
side the District of Columbia and nearly
400 departmental employees in Wash
ington
Latest figures on civilian personnel
available at the War Department give
total OF 1888 in various establish-
mentS In Washington, and 44,60l out
slde the District. One reason for this
huge civilian army, it was pointed out.
is the employment of 1854 civilians
engaged in rivers and harbors projects
which Congress imposes on the Engi-
neer Corps OF the Army. OF these
civilian engineers 613 are employed in
the District of Columbia.
Department officials made it clear to-
day that no definite plan has been
worked out with regard to reducing
civilian personnel, but as a starting
point estimates of saving by this means
are being based on 10 per cent re-
duction In the force. 1t was believed,
however. that dismissals of depart
mental employees in Washington would
be materially less than this percentage
in view of the very necessary work
which they perform. Few Army off,
GERS are qualified to take the place Of
veteran civilian employees who have
given years of time to the technical side
OF Army paper work.
Training to Be Reduced.
1t was made known last SATURDAY.
that the Army, in keeping intact the
officer and enlisted strength of its
ngnt1ng forces, must make drastic re-
auctions not only in its civilian person.
mel but also In all phases of field
maneuvering, target practice and re-
equipment.
The more than $1,000 employees on
rivers and harbors projects account for
neary a half of the total civilian en-
ployes OF the Army. A majority of the
civilians engaged in the military end Of
the War Department are represented in
the Quartermaster and Ordinance
Corps. At the end Of 1882, which are
the latest figures obtainable the Quar-
termaster Corps had 1896 civilians on
its rolls, of whom 738 are employed in
Washington. These employees are main
tained in the huge quartermaster depots
necessary at ports Of ernbarkation and
the station military posts Throughout
the country.
The Ordinance Department ranks
second with 7,710, of whom only 1856,
however, are employed in Washington.
Among these are thousa1S,s of highly
skilled specialists maintained at muni-
ton plants and depots, as well as fac
tories which manufacture special Army
equipment.
Engaged in Technical Work.
The Air Corps ranks next in the
number OF civilians employed, carrying
on its rolls 3,516. OF this number
it was said there are 140 In Washing
ton. The necessity of engaging technical
men in this highly specialized work was
given as a reason for the large number
OF civilians at the various Army aviation
fields.
A total Of 1866 civilians come under
the Surgeon Generals Office, 237 being
stationed IN Washington. A very large
number OF these medical men 1t was
said are paid from Veterans Bureau
funds, being stationed at various vet
erans' hospitals throughout the country.
With the adjutant generals depart
ment centered chiefly in Washington
GIT OF its 1,151 civilian employees work
In the War Department. The remainder
are scattered chiefly in the nine CORDS
areas. The same situation more or less
affects the finance Office where 388 of
the 80l civilians are stationed here.
The remainder of the 1858 civilian
employees of the District are scattered
in negligible numbers at various Army
plants and departmental bureaus.
1t was said at the War Department
today that economy plans effecting the
civilian personnel must be worked out
within the next 10 days Efforts will
be made to absorb the economies in
such way as to disturb as little as pos
sible the efficiency of departmental
offices. Savings in this respect it was
believed would be met through more
drastic reductions in the field and engi-
neer forces.