The Washington times., 1937-02-08

per cent OF lCS total p9rSonnel,
the Social Security Board declared
today.
The announcement was included
In the first annual report of the
board, which described problems
of the largest new agency ever
established at one stroke in finding
itself enough satisfactory en-
ployes.
In its report, a modest, orange
colored pamphlet of 131 pages, the
agency revealed that the number
of applicants for jobs, who
swamped the Washington person
mel office when the Federal old
age benefit plan got under way,
reached as high as 10000 in a
single month and seldom fell be-
low 100 in day.
Nevertheless, the report admitted
that it was necessary to find a
large part of the Social Security
staff from persons transferring
from other Federal units, and said
that while the Civil Service Com
mission has maintained most
cooperative attitude" many of the
commissions registers were de-
pleted. Further, it was declared
that Social Security's need for
technical employees of special train
ing could not be satisfied by reg
listers in existence and that new
registers must be developed - ad-
mittedly slow process.
In regard to "erperts," subject
which has brought frequent crit
icism to both Social Security and
the Civil Service Commission, the
report said:
larger number of per
sons was appointed under the
expert exception than might
otherwise have been the case,
although the number of ex-
perts on the staff was limited
to less than five per cent of the
totals personnel. The term
expert is confined to persons
who have, in the opinion of the
Civil Service Commission, tech
nical training and experience
along the lines of the boards
specialized functions"
The report also stressed a train
ing program for field personnel
which was inaugurated early and
has now evolved into a basic
course required for all admins
trative and technical workers
and supplemented by more special
lied courses for professional en-
ployes. This activity is to be
permanent. it was indicated.
Hitting at a lack of space which
has seriously impeded the pro
gress of the organization" the
report added:
"Now there is urgent need
for $4,000 square feet of ad-
ditionaI office space in the
District of COlumia, and pro-
vision must be made soon for
quarter million square feet
for use by the Bureau of Fed
eral Old Age Benefits. 1t is
hoped that Congress may be
SO impressed with the serious
ness of this situation as to
authorize the immediate erec-
ton of a building to house all
activities of the Social Security
Board"
In his appearance before the
House Appropriations Subcommit-
tee, Civil Service Commissioner
Harry Mitchell, supported by
Budget officer Kenneth Vipond.
pointed out that many "eligibles"
had declined jobs with Social Sc
curity. Reasons indicated were
that many folk didn't care to work
in Baltimore, particularly at mea-
ger 81 1,260 and $1,440 salaries, and
that many doubted the perma-
nency of the organization.
The New Interior Buildings
cafeteria-the most pretentious
ever installed in a Government
Structure-is to lean toward the
feminine for preparation of its
meals, despite the fact that all men
know that the best cooking comes
from masculine hands.
The immense kitchen, boasting
four 60-gallon soup kettles, will be
in charge OF four feminine cooks
assisted by four men and four fair
bakers with a single male to aid
them. Having weathered much
criticism of it's accounts by a COM
mittee reporting to Secretary Ickes
almost year ago, the welfare and
Recreation Association Of Public
Buildings and Grounds is to staff
the cafeteria, and is transferring
about 130 of its key employees from
other eaterieS.
In a press note issued today,
interior promised:
For opening day employees
will be able to choose between
vegetable and creamed aSpara-
gus soup, between chicken pie,
pot roast of beef, apple stuffed
with sausages, veal birds what
are they?) and creamed muSh-
rooms on toast. There will be
spinach for strength, spoon
bread and coffee cake and cur
rant muffins for delicacies,
mince, apple, cherry and pump
kin pies and fancy Bavarian,
orange fluff and ;ellied plum
pudding for desserts"
Berniece Heffner, attractive ma
tional secretary of the A. F. G. E.,
will be the guest of honor ton1or-