Evening star., 1942-02-26
Personnel Transfers
In Consultations
Provided in Bill
Would Protect Status Of
Employees and Set Up
Reinstatement Safeguard

Government employees whose SER
vices may be rendered unnecessary
by reason of new consolidation plans
would be transferred to other agen-
cies, wherever possible. under a bill
introduced late yesterday by Senator
McKellar, Democrat, of Tennessee.
If such employees cannot be trans
ferred Immediately, the bill also
would make them eligible for re-
instatement to Government service
without examination within one year.
The bill comes in the wake of
eecutive orders by the President
regrouping bureaus in the Agricul-
ture Department and consolidating
housing agencies. 1t also ties in
with the general inquiry about to
be launched by Senate subcom-
mittee, under the Tydings resolu-
ton, to find out how many employees
could be spared from non-defense
agencies to help meet the needs OF
war bureaus for additional personnel.
Would Protect Pay Status.
Senator Tydings, Democrat, OF
Maryland has emphasized that any
employees transferred as result
of his investigation should have
their present pay level and classifi-
cation status protected, and the Nc
Kellar bill also carries that provi-
sion.
One of the objects of the Tydings
| inquiry is to avoid, as far as posi-
BILE, the bringing of more new work
ers into crowded Washington, If
trained personnel can be drawn for
the period of the emergency from
non- defense bureaus.
Before the President ordered the
consolidation of various housing
agencies, Senator McKellar had in
troduced a bill for the same pur-
pose, and another measure TO
abolish N. Y. A. and C. c. c. at the
end of this year.
The McKellar housing bill was
referred to the Education and Labor
Committee, and Senator Ellender,
Democrat, of Louisiana, chairman
of the Housing Subcommittee, indi-
Gated yesterday he is continuing a
study of the merger problem, aside
from the executive order.
Reorganization of the functions
Of the Office of Civilian Defense
and their transfer to the War De-
partment also is the subject of sep
arate bills by Senators Tydings and
Clark, Democrat, Of Missouri.
Byrd Ready for Inquiry.
While these bills are awaiting
committee action, Chairman Byrd
of the Joint Congressional Economy
Committee is ready to launch an
investigation of o. c. D. before that
committee tomorrow morning.
The McKellar personnel trans
fer bill provides:
That officers and employees of
any department or agency OF the
Government who are no longer
necessary for performing the duties
of such agency or department by
reason of the fact that such agency
or department has been abolished
or any of its functions terminated,
transferred or consolidated, or by
reason of elimination in the work
of such department or agency or
any reorganization of its affairs,
shall be transferred under existing
law to other positions in the Gov
ernment services wherever prac-
ticable, and in other cases shall be
separated from the service. Any
persons so separated from the serv-
Ice shall be eligible for reinstate-
ment in the Government service
without examination for a period
of one year from the time of sep
aration, and during such period
shall be given a preference, when
qualified, whenever an appointment
is made in the executive branch of
the Government. Any person trans
ferred In accordance with the pro-
visions of this act shall be so trans
ferred without the loss of any
rights or privilege to which he is
entitled under the civil service laws
tanotiAv. Ia -