The Washington times., 1936-11-21
AAA TO REDUCE
900 WORKERS
BY. JAN. |

Personnel reductions ranging
from 500 to 900 within the Dis.
trict Of Columbia staff will be eff.
fected at the Agricultural Adjust
ment Administration either De.
cember IS or January l, T. Weed
Harvey, administrative assistant
to Secretary Henry A. Wallace,
estimated today.
The reductions, predicted since
the Supreme Courts memorable
decision invalidating the AAA's
processing tax methods, have
been expected from month to
month by personnel, but thus far
have been delayed.
Following the courts decision,
hundreds Of workers were given
furloughs to allow them to seek
other positions, but many were
taken back on active rolls to aid
in clearing up old AAA work and
assist in reorganizing the bureau
In line with additional legislation
later passed by Congress.
Faced Consolidation
Mr.. Harvey revealed that off.
cialS were aware that the AAA
would eventually face a consoli.
dation Of it's staff and that it had
been hoped that a steady stream
Of designations might make a
drastic reduction of the force un'
necessary.
Although designations have aver.
aged well over 100 monthly, how
ever, at least 500 are expected to
receive either furloughs or out
right separations shortly. Fur
loughS are preferred because they
allow the employe to retain an en-
ployed status, and Harvey stated
today they will be granted on a
basis Of efficiency, those workers
with the lowest efficiency ratings
getting them first. Seniority will
not be considered.
Stenographers and typists will
have the best chance for survival,
however, Harvey admitted, mas
much as AAA has plenty of need
for them" Those slated to lose
out are employees whose work has
been completed, such as file clerks,
assistant audit clerks, reviewers,
examiners and some supervisors.
Many Get Appointments
Many workers are receiving ap-
pointments with the Social Secur.
ity Commission, while numerous
others have availed themselves of
temporary work offered them in
their home States, In AAA re-
gional offices. In most cases, how
ever, this work has a duration of
but three to six months, and per-
sonnel has considered AAA offers
for field work as IAN excuse to get
us out Of Washington" according
to comments of many.
Considered now as a bureau
under the Agriculture Department,
the AAA'S future rests in the task
of setting up permanent offices in
the States to handle farm prob
lens, and the regional offices must
be established by January /, 1888.
-Four States have approved CO.
operating with the AAA to date,
Harvey said, and other approvalS
are hoped for during the general
legislative sessions this winter.
Although AAA has taken all
new employees from Civil Service
registers since 1884, it was ex-
empted from the merit system by
Congress originally, and Harvey
said it would be up to Congress"
as to whether the bureau will be
given merit status in line with the
Presidents announced intention
toward newly established perma.
nent units.
An Easier Matter
With all positions now classified
and allocated, however, he said
it would be an easy matter to bring
the agency under Civil Service via
qualifying examination" for re-
naming personnel.
Although reductions are all to
take place within the office of the
comptroller, located in the old
Post Office Building, the AAA will
continue to occupy the building,
Harvey added, much of the "neW
setup" being located therein.