Evening star., 1942-10-18
j. 5. Force in Capital
Expected 10 Expand
$1,000 More by July
CWiIion Stuff TotuI
To Exceed 1910 Mark
By About zoo, 900

10 Exceed l94U Mark
By About zoe, 900
Continued From First Page)
consider maximum needs, brought
the reply that mass hiring was
about ended. Estimates obviously
have been revised in view of the
data obtained by the commission.
On August 81, last date for which
oficial figures are available, the War
Department force, the largest in
Washington, totaled 57,92l persons;
War Production Board, 1915, and
OPA, 4,sO4.
Up 100000 Since 1910.
Based on these recruiting esti-
mates given to the Civil Service
Commission, the civilian staff here
In June will be about 100000 above
the level of 131 900, at which it
stood in mid-year 1910, when the
war program was started. Actually,
the total departmental force will be
well in excess of that, for more than
10000 employees have been ordered
out of Washington in the decentral-
ization program which started early
this year, and they still are classed
as departmental. The peak of local
employment in the First World War
was less than 118, 900. In the field
where today it is running over D.
900 ,00O-it was estimated at 100000
in 19l7-18.
The additional Federal employ
ment in prospect this year, it should
be added, is only part of the hiring
picture, for the turnover, running
as high as 80 per cent, on an annual
basis, will make it necessary to OBJ
tain thousands of other workers 10
take the places of those who quit
for one reason or another.
At the end of August, the Civil
Service Commission reported civilian
employment in the executive agen-
cies here at 275 1852 In the field it
was well above 1000 900, but exact
figures are not yet available. The
increase, both here and in the field.
has been better than 100 per cent
in the period since the war produc-
ton program opened. About one
third of this growth locally, and
one-fourth outside of Washington,
has taken place since Pearl Harbor,
when the hiring rate, already high,
was stepped up.
War and Navy Lead.
The expansion has centered in
War and Navy, which together sky
rocketed from combined total of
134,501 employees in June l, 1910,
to 1,388,06l on July 81 of this year
net increase of more than L.
250,000. The largest concentration
Is In War, the ratio to Navy nearly
2-to-1. Part of this mushrooming
has been due to the tremendous
influx of skilled workmen into Navy
yards, arsenals, and other plants
actually engaged in production.
There has been a corresponding
growth in white e-collar employment,
however, principally in the clerical
grades, and it is at this phase that
the House inquiry Is directed, with
particular reference to conditions in
Washington.
The departments here have added
approximately 100000 employees
since the middle of 1910. In the
independent agencies, including the
newly established war units in OEM,
the increase has approximated So
900. The department rolls include
about 175,0O0 persons; the independ-
ent group, 100000. War has taken
on $4,000 people; Navy, the second
largest local establishment, has
added $4,000 and now tops $4,000.
Treasury which always reflects un-
usual activities elsewhere in the
Government, Is at the $4,000 level.
with an increase of 5000 in the war
program period, and some of the
rest show minor increases. Interior
and Agriculture, where the forces
fuctuate seasonally, are below the
June. 1910, mark, as is Labor, which
lost the immigration and Naturali-
Eation Service to Justice.
1880 In OEM War Units.
The war units of OEM had 81 300
employees at last accounts. In ad-
dition to WPB and OPA, these in
clude the Office of Censorship, Of
fee of Strategic Services, Board of
Economic Warfare. Selective Serv-
ice System, Alien Property Admin
istration and War Shipping Ad-
ministration.
The continuing demand for man.
power has forced the Civil Service
Commission to take unusual meas
ures to recruit personnel. with the
accent more on quantity than quail
ity. Age limits have been scrapped
and youngsters Of Is now are eligi-
BILE for employment as are those
Of advanced years who would not
have been considered for jobs a
year ago. In many lines, where
the demand for personnel has
drained all available sources of
skilled workers, the Government
has undertaken the training-after
first putting the trainees on the
payroll. Stenographers and typists
with scanty experience-to cite the
outstanding example-have been
brought in by the thousands and
schooled on the job, while drawing
81 ,260 to $1,440.
within the past week, the COM
mission called for trainees for blue
print, multilith and similar ma
chimes at initial salaries of $l,260
and for craftsmen at sl.320. OBJ
viously. this is costly procedure.
Oficials defend 1t as a necessity.
They must have the workers, they
say, and they are able to make
some use of them even though
their work is below par.
This shortage of skilled help is
traceable to two principal causes