Evening star., 1936-01-15
TREASURY FREES
SALARIES OF 5000
A. A. A. employees
$500 of Own Workers Are
Observation-Disclosures
Due Tomorrow.
ACTION is TAKEN AFTER
M'CARL CONSULTATION
Controller General O. KS Trans
fer of $4,000, ,o00-Force Liqui-
dation Begins January 81.

AotASAA &S6 AAAS e~~~
The Treasury this afternoon released
the pay of $500 Agricultural ADJUST
ment Administration employees and
$500 members of its own staff engaged
in A. A. A. work. whose standing had
been in doubt since the Supreme Court
decision put the farm aid organization
out of business.
The action was taken after consult
ing with Controller General McCarl,
whose decision yesterday on the status
of the two groups had. left officials OF
the respective organizations in the dark
as to just what might be done.
Because of the mix-up. it was said
that pay generally will not get around
here until tomorrow. although today
is the mid month pay day. Field en-
ployes will suffer no delay, as their
pay day always is two or three days
after that here.
McCarl Calls for Data.
McCarl had held that employees on
functions not banned by the court
could continue on duty status, but
suggested that he be advised what
was contemplated so he might deter
mine its legality.
At the same time he held fatty
that no further salary payments could
be made from processing tax funds.
This latter decision, automatically
stopped the pay of the Treasury en-
ployes all of whom have been en-
gagged in collection of these taxes, and
also affected some of the A. A. A..
staff.
1t was to devise some method of
paying t',is group and of clarifying
the status olhthe others that the con-
troller general was approached again.
He agreed to the transfer OF S3,000,-
900 from the regular A. A. A. appro-
priation to the Treasury to care for
the latter's needs, and, accepting this
as a precedent, the Treasury decided
on its own initiative to pay off the
A. A. A. workers
Decentralizing Starts January 81.
Concurrently with announcement Of
the pay arrangement, it was made
known at the Treasury that decen-
tralization of its processing tax force
will start on January 81, the same
date chosen by the A. A. A. to begin
cutting down.
Only a skeleton force will be re-
tanned of the 1000 workers in the
field, but it is not intended to dis
turb the local force of 500 at this
time.
The Treasury employees, like those
to be retained by the A. A. A.. will
constitute liquidating force to wind
up loose ends as quickly and orderly
as possible. In both establishments
it is planned to furlough. rather than
dismiss, those being cut off. as they
are to get preference in re-employ-
ment if the Government again en-
barks on a farm program.
Decentralization Plans Begun.
Meanwhile. at the A. A. A., plans
were being pushed for starting de-
centralization of the huge force.
1t was announced definitely that
1000 temporary workers, 1000 of
whom are employed here, would
be dropped. The extent of the
reduction of the permanent force was
not certain, although it was said "a
good many necessarily would be
dropped.
Representatives of the A. A. A.
lodges of the American Federation of
Government Employees, accompanied
by the federation president, E. Claude
Babcock, conferred on personnel prob
lens yesterday with Administrator
Chester c. Davis and were advised
every effort will be made to care for
the workers.
In view of the fact that so many
employees apparently face dismissal.
representatives of five New Deal lodges
of the American Federation of Gov
ernmens Employees decided last night
to campaign for a special w. P. A.
project to absorb the workers and
give them at least temporary employ
ment.
A committee composed of John DON
ovan, N. r. A. Lodge; Mrs. Janet
Gaines, Resettlement Administration
Lodge; Miss Edna Richter, w. P. A.
Lodge; Dan Kessler, A. A. A. Lodge
Mo. 116 and Ben Allen, A. A. A.
Lodge No. ITO. called on Babcock
to present the plan.
BabcOck Pledges Support.
Babcock promised to support the
proposal Harry L. hopkins. w. P. A.
administrator. will be asked to create
the special project Immediately. He
will also be asked to pay the dismissed
workers at the existing classified rates
of wages.
Asked about the A. A. A. personnel
yesterday, President Roosevelt said he
did not know exactly what the sit
uation was, except that the controller
general had made a ruling
Mr.. Roosevelt added, however, that
II substitute program was approved
by Congress considerable personnel
might be required. Some observers
interrupted this to mean there would
be no wholesale discharge of A. A. A.
workers.