The Washington times., 1937-05-26
Job Security

JOU OCCullCy
A GREAT deal of needless worry is being caused
n Government employees by foundationless talk of
wholesale dismssals in the Government service and by
idle ranting about unreazable economies.
Cbatterers seem to be taking great delight in spread
ing rumors that this or that Government agency is about
o fold up and that if not hundreds of employees
will soon be walking the streets.
Often employees ascribe to this sort of talk credence
which is not justified.
They become panicky and disturbed and place them
selves under a needless mental strain.
AS MATTER OF FACT, THE OUTLOOK
RIGHT NOW FOR GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES,
INSOFAR AS SECURITY OF TENURE IS CON-
CERNED, IS BRIGHT AND THERE IS EVERY REA-
SON FOR BELIEVING THAT THE IMMEDIATE
FUTURE WILL BRING ADDITIONS TO THE GOV
EMINENT SERVICE IN WASHINGTON RATHER
THAN SEPARATIONS.
This will become more apparent after the legislative
lam which has backed up behind the Supreme Court
packing proposal is broken and the Administration
and Congress get down to the business of passing the
bills to carry out the Presidents program.
Held up BY reason of the jam in Congress bills
which are designed to accomplish the purposes for
which various agencies we're established under laws
recently declared invalid by the Supreme Court.
With the passage of new laws-laws which will stand
the test of constitutonay- agencies will be re-
vived or successors will be created.
In addition to revving these agencies which more or
less apsed during the last few years. it is evident that
the Administration plans to extend its activities into
still more paths.
There is no indication of vast slight cur
tailment of governmental functions during the rest of
the Roosevelt Administration.
Consequently there can be appreciate decrease
in the total number of Government employees.
Naturally there must be an incr in that number
if the broader program of the Administration is to be
carried out.
The decision of the Supreme Court uphoding the
Social Security Act gives concrete illustration of the
likely increase in the total number of persons employed
here by the Government.
It has been secret that the organization admins
terng the act has been kept to minimum pending
the valuation of the law and officials plan to add
several thousands to the ranks.
The Social Security Board, when it organized,
forced to set up offices in Baltimore because of short
age of space in Washington.
With the opening of several new Government build
ings here, this condition will be eliminated and
the employees of this anti in Baltimore will in all
probability be brought back to this city.
1t should also be borne in mind by the apostles of
gloom in Washington that right the existing Gov
eminent agencies understaffed.
This is evident from the recent official survey of
overtime hours put in by Government employees.
OBVIOUSLY THE NUMBER OF WORKERS CAN
NOT BE CURTAILED WITHOUT INCREASING
THE OVERTIME BURDEN ON THOSE WHO
ARE LEFT, AND THIS EXTENSIVE OVERTIME
AMOUNTING TO ABOUT FOURTEEN MILLION
HOURS ANNUALLY, MUST BE REPUGNANT TO
AN ADMINISTRATION WHICH PROCESSES SUCH
SoLICITUDE FOR THE WORKING MAN AS DOES
THAT OF MR.. ROOSEVELT.
If Government employees therefore, will stop to think
about the fundamental situation in regard to Govern