The Washington times., 1936-05-21
6. A. @. FIRINGS
DENIED BY
OFFICIALS
BY J. EARLE MOsER

Reports that the General Ac-
counting Office will shortly "de-
mobilize" it's large force of emer.
gency workers have been termed
premature" by an official source
within the agency, despite wave
Of alarm that has invaded person
mel.
It Is admitted, however, that
employees whose efficiency rating
has been lowered for one reason or
another may find cause to regret
the fact. It is also admitted that
there may be some discharges lin
connection with ordinary routine"
from time to time until June 80,
1887.
Plans to discharge emergency
workers in wholesale lots at the
end of next month, however, were
denied flatly today, although this
rumor has more than one employe
definitely worried.
Nothing imminent" was the
terse reply given in answer to
questions on the subject, which is
Of vital interest to more than 1000
workers paid by emergency funds
that G. A. o. moguls mournfully
point out were sliced to the tune of
$l,000,o000 for the next fiscal
year.
Efficient workers, it is said,
shave nothing to worry about for a
year, at least" and the fact re-
mains that G.. A. o. is sWamped
with auditing and preauditing
work which officials feel neceSsi.
tates more employees than they
now have. Hiring has almost van.
4shed at G. A. o., however.
Protest
Methods of firing in various
emergency agencies forced to re-
duce have been attacked by the
American Federation of Govern.
ment Employees, which declares
that efficiency and seniority are
being overlooked. The A. F. G. E.
declares need of a more unified
personnel procedure" is outstand.
ing and is shown "by develop.
ments incident to the prospect of
reduction in force" of some
agencies.
A statement sent to all mem.
bers charges, in part:
"The A. F. G. E., recalling the
chaotic conditions and loss Of
morale that were OccasiOned by
the events of three years ago,
has insistently urged that some
uniform procedure be adopted
in some cases where reductions
must be made, and that pri-
marily, in reductions, the least
efficient employees or those last
employed should be the first to
60.
I'm practice, there has been
insufficient Improvement since
the earlier occasion. 1t is true
that efforts are being made to
care for useful employees, but
dismissaIs are by no means al
ways made because employees are
inefficient; various other con-
sideratiOns, such as politics,
marital status, residence, fl
nancial resources, etc., are taken
into account"
The organization charges morale
IN Government emergency agen.
eieS is suffering as a result.
De Luxe Cars?
Comptroller General McCarl has
severely cracked down" on the
Department of Interior, it was re-
vealed today, because the depart
ment's office in jackson, Wyo.,
purchased an auto designated as
"de luxe"
The car was vetoed-and a dis
bursting officers insurance COM
pany must pay for it-because the
demand for a "de luxe" piece OF
rolling equipment is held as tend
ing to eliminate competition by
bidding, a procedure which the
Government must follow in max
ing all of it's purchases. A de luxe
model was bought because the
make OF car favored only included
a built-in trunk in the de luxe
variety, and Interior officials
wished to avoid having to use an
attached trunk. Other features
were thought very nice also, such
as dual horns, windshield Wipers,
tail lights, and safety glass. Sar.
castically, however, Mr.. McCarl
said:
"The reason assigned for spec
flying dual horns (underlined),
wipers, tail lights and visOrs
does not appear sufficient to JUS
tify the requirement. The Ordi-
nary equipment of an automo:
hiIe is one horn, one windshield
wiper, one tail light, and one
visor. More than that is excess
equipment"
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