Evening star., 1933-06-29
Only 80 Now on Pay Roll
Will Be Affected as FiS-
cal Year Ends.
FURLOUGH PLAN HELPS
TO SOFTEN CUTS BLOW
Wholesale Dismissals Avoided by
Decision of Commissioners After
Hearing Donovan Report.

The economy act TO-DAY Topped OIL 1oo
positions on the District government
rolls in order to bring expenses Tor per-
scnnel within appropriations for the
new fiscal year beginning SATURDAY.
OF this number, Ct positions were
vacant and have been abolished SO that
funds would be available to the othces
affected Only 80 persons now employed
by the District are separated from the
pay rolls. Four of these were under
the marriage law clause in the lnde-
pendent Offices bill. 8 under the 30-year
service provisions for retirements When
necessary and 81 for other reasons.
There are today about $500 positions
in the District government under the
classification act. In addition to THIS
figure there are about 1850 employees
in the Police Department, $50 in the
Fire Department, $500 teachers and
about $500. per diem empliyes. The
total number thus would run about
1000.
Most of the District employees affected
by the reductions in force were those
of the lower salary brackets, ranging
from about 81 400 to about S2,4O0. De-
partment heads escaped dismissal, al
though they will be affected by what
ever furloughs are necessary.
Blow Is Softened.
BY adoption of the furlough system
in departments which otherwise would
be short of sufficient funds, the blow
was softened and prevented larger
number of dismissals, it was explained.
These decisions we're reached at
special meeting of the Commissioners
today, in passing upon report py MAJ.
Daniel j. Donovan, head of the DIS
trict Personnel Board. to which were
attached recommendations from the
head of each department.
Mai Donovan pointed out that IN
certain of the Offices reductions IN sal
ery appropriations were made by Con-
prcss with the deliberate purpose in
view of accomplishing a REDUCTION datdo IN
thu working forces of those OFFICES:
This statement applies specifically to
the cffices of the inspector OF buildings,
municipal architect and the testing
l?hcra tory of the Highway Department.
The number of employees dismissed,
MAJ Donovan said, would have been
c~c2ter had it not been for the policy
6Crted by the Commissioners that
s.o@~cti- ms of employees should be re,
so~ ed to only in extreme cases ana
he the circumstances absolutely de-
II, Led such action.
IN practically all the Offices OF the
p::5tt-:ct. even those where savings were
rlade through abolishing vacant posi-,
ticas. he said the rotative furlough VIII
have to be used in varying eXtentS. rms
will be determined by the amount OF
the shortage with which the offices VIII
be confronted in order to meet pay rolis;
In no case, it was announced, Woulo
the furlough extend to as mucn as oo
days, according to present lndlcatlons;
The three departments haroest hlt py
foD
ing INSPECTORS office, the munlclpal
architects office and the Highway De-
partment. Eleven employees OF the
EIilding inspectors Office were dismissed
and their positions abolished. Ihese
we're an associate engineer at $1,000 a
year. three associate engineers at SZ,oUu
a wear, one principal engineering IN
spector at S2,5oO, three principal engl-
neering inspectors at $4,000, one senior
engineering inspector at S2ooo, enc
assistant clerk at $l,740 and one junior
clerk at S1,500.
These dismissals were dictated, the
board said, by the deliberate act OF
Congress in reducing personnel appro-
priations for this department. due TO
the slump in building construction In
washington. The position of municipal
architect at $500 year, left vacant
bv the recent death of Albert Harris, /
will remain untitled.
Three engineering positions there were
transferred to the construction roll.
One position in the District repair shop
was abolished, due to retirement, and
vacant position at the shop was abol-
ished.
Highway Posts Ended.
In the Highway Department six posi-
tions were abolished as a result of the
decree by Congress that the testing
laboratory be closed during the 1884
fiscal wear. Of these six employees, two
have had 80 years of service. The
salaries of the six ranged from Sl,260
to $3,400.
Three positions in the street division
of the Highway Department also were
abolished. The salaries there ranged
from $3.50 to $500. Five positions
in the Department Of Vehicles and
Traffic, three of which have been vacant
for several months, were abolished. Inc
salaries ranged from Sl,260 to Sl,620.
Six positions in the Electrical Depart |
ment, two of which have been vacant,
were abolished, effecting saving in
salaries ranging from $500, for part
time work, to $4,000.
Savings in salary costs in the Police
Department we're effected by abollshlng
the following positions now vacant:
Four sergeants, 81 privates, 2 detective
sergeants, janitors and l laundress.
In the Fire Department, vacant po-
sitions abolished include those OF l5
privateS
Two vacant positions in the Health
Department were abolished, one S2,0Ou
position at the District Reformatory,
three positions in the Water Depart
ment and five positions in the water
waste survey work of the Water De-
partment.
In the surveyors Office three en-
ployes were discharged and their posi-
tions abolished. the salaries ranging
from Sl260 to $500: two vacant posi-
tions in the city refuse division were
abolished and two employees OF the
plumbing inspection division were dis
missed, effecting total saving of
$3,240.
The board announced that 81 of the
80 employees being let out were being
dropped without prejudice, due to def