The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1942-01-01

washington, -. ~, DCS' oo'
general Tightening up OF govern
ment agencies, aimed at greatel
efficiency and speed in war pro
duction, has been going on here
for the past two weeks. In add
ton, government departments al
rectly tied up with our war Ell
fort have been considerably en-
larged, which has necessltatec
moving many non-war depart
ments out of Washington.
The federal government now
has so many employees that eftl
cient management demands con
slant reorganization, but in spite
of its unwieldiness the govern
ment is now functioning with
minimum of duplication of effort
and with an efficiency which has
greatly impressed recent visitors
to this city.
Under the present reorganiza-
ton, William S. Knudsen, director
general of the Office of Produc-
ton Management, has been given
increased authority. The indus
trial and purchase divisions,
which have formerly been report
ing to Leon Henderson of the Div
ision of Civilian Supply, will now
report directly to Mr.. Knudsen,
thus relieving some of the pres
sure from Mr.. Henderson's many
activities.
Approximately 10000 govern
ment employees, connected with
departments which are not di-
rectly concerned with the war,
have been shifted to other cities
to make room for bureaus direct
ly connected with the war effort.
The office space, as well as liv-
ing quarters problem in Wash
ington has been acute for over
a year, and the new plan of de-
GENERALIZATION of the government
is expected to ease it to some ex-
tent. In the past year the popu-
lation of this city has increased by
over 100000 people, which has
been a severe tax on housing, Of
flee space, transportation and res
taurant facilities.
The revision of the Selective
Service act, calling for the regis
tration of all men between the
ages of Is and 81 and making
those from 20 to A liable for
military service, has sprured the
army and navy departments on
to make plans for building the
biggest armed force possible in
the shortest possible time.
Although the revised act still
calls for the exemption of men
with certain classes of dependents.
Brigadier General Hershey, Sc
1ective Service administrator, es-
Inmates that it will Immediately
make available fighting force of
1000, 900 men. The army now has
in uniform approximately 1,8O0,-
600 men, about $4,000 of whom
are selectees.
Following the new registration
it is expected that the army will
discontinue en1istments and fill
all of its needs from the selectees.
The navy, which has not taken
any selectees. is expected to con-
tinue filling its needs through. en-
listments. The navy expects to
enlist $4,000 men in January.
Although labor has pledged to
give full support to the produc-
ton program, government Off
Gals are plainly worried over the
difficulties which labor and en-
ployers had in getting together at
the recent Washington confer
ence. Labor was unwilling to ac-
cept a freezing of present con-
tracts or to accept the status quo
so far as the closed shop is con-
cerned. Their leaders indicated
that they would continue to try
to expand the closed shop plan
during the war.
The employers contend that the
closed shop should not be consid-
cred a proper grievance to sub
nit to war labor board.
A detailed plan for press CEN
sorship, as well as censorship OF
communications between the Uni
ted States and foreign countries,
is being. set up by Byron Price,
former executive news editor OF
the Associated Press, who has
been named by the President as
Director of Censorship" A cen
sorship board, which is aiding in
formulating our censorship poll
cies, includes: Vice President Wal
lace, the secretaries of war, navy
and the treasury, the directors OF
the Office of Facts and Figures
and of Government Reports, the
attorney general and the postmas-
ter general.
t. 80 avrontad en- for nc news