Evening star., 1935-09-24
n. RIA. EMPLOYEES
NOW TOTAL 2,76O,
REPORT REVEALS
Senator King Favors More
Rapid Reduction in
Agency's Forces.
CURTAILMENTS MADE
AVERAGE rs WEEKLY
Personnel Aids Other Depart.
ments, Acting Administrator
Says in Data Submitted.

The National Recovery Administra-
tion had a force Of 2,760 employees
early this month, but is making cur
tailments at the rate of rs a week,
Acting Administrator L. ]. Martin
made known today in a report to Sem
ator King, Democrat, of Utah. King
asked for the data before Congress
adjourned.
As he prepared to draft a formal
reply, Senator King questioned the
necessity for present expenditures and
indicated he favored more rapid re-
duction in personnel. The report
showed that the number of employees
as Of September 7 would cost $7,023,-
220 on an annual basis.
Commenting on the size Of the
present organization. Senator King
said:
MY information is that little Is
being done, and they are just keeping
them on with the idea that N. r. A.
may be resuscitated. meanwhile loan
ing them around to other agencies"
Questions Loans"
Senator King also said there Is
serious question in his mind as
to the validity of loaning employees
to other governmental agencies. He
said he would be opposed to any move
looking to revival of N. r. A. legis-
lation at the next session Of Congress
The report of the acting admin
istrator showed That of the present
organization 2,072 are in Washington
and 688 in the field service. It gave
the number IN each salary grade,
disclosing that SAL received salaries
at the rate of $4,000 or more a year.
1t shows also that N. r. A. employees
were loaned to other agencies. as fol-
lows: Commerce, ls; Treasury, 3;
White House, 10; Labor Department,
6, and Federal Trade Commission, rs.
In this connection, the report to Sen
ator King stated:
THE N. r. A. has utilized many
services and Offices of the Department
of Commerce which the N. r. A.
would have found 1t necessary to es-
tahlish separately had it not been
for the facilities made available by
the Department of Commerce. The
Department of Commerce was un-
able TO furnish such facilities to N.
r. A within its appropriation. Sim
liar arrangements for similar reasons
were made with the Treasury and
Labor Departments.
Under an arrangement with this
administration, employees have been
loaned to the White House and like
wise employees have been loaned to the
Federal Trade Commission in order
to carry out the Presidents program
wherein that agency is working in
conjunction with the N. r. A."
Controllers Decisions.
The letter also referred to several
decisions of the controller general on
this question.
Following the Supreme Courts de-
cision last Spring against the N. r. A.,
Congress, in June, passed a resolu-
ton keeping the organization alive
until April l. 1886. but shorn of its
original power to enforce compulsory
codes.
The acting administrator attached
to his report the executive order of
June Is outlining the scope OF cur
tailed authority of N. r. A. during this
one-year extension. The order created
a division of review to assemble and
analyze information on the codes while
they were in existence, a division to
Cooperate with and aid trade groups
in following voluntary standards of
fair competition, and an advisory
council
After calling attention to the exec
utive order, Martin concluded his let
ter to Senator King with the state
ment: This administration is now
actively employed in an accomplish
ment Of the program cited above"