Evening star., 1942-03-01
Tydings Survey
|0f u. ). Bureaus
Gets Under WAY
Shift of Workers
To War Agencies
Seen Main Result
By ]. A. O'LEARY.

One of the most complete in
ventories Congress ever has
taken of the Government serv-
ice will be launched tomorrow,
when the Tydings Senate sub
committee sends a voluminous
QUESTIONABLE to every section
chief in every agency, in search
of employees, Office space and
equipment that may be switched
from non-defenSe to war work.
Senator Tydings, Democrat, Of
Maryland last night made public
the 24-page printed form that will
60 out to $500 group heads, en-
bfacing every conceivable question
that may help the Appropriations
Committee determine functions that
could be dispensed with or curtailed
during the emergency to save money
and at the same time meet the re-
quirements of essential war bureaus.
None of the regular departmental
supply bills has gone through the
Senate yet, except for Army and
Navy expansion, and the Maryland
Senator has indicated his subcom-
mitee will try to complete its in
quiry in time to streamline the Gov
ernment setup at the start of the
new fiscal year, July l.
A special chapter has been in
cluded in the QUESTIONABLE to pro-
duce a complete picture of how
much each department and agency
is spending for publicity.
Would Check Future Influx.
One of the primary objects Sena-
tor Tydings has in mind in seeking
to transfer employees temporarily
from non-defense to war-related
agencies is to reduce to the lowest
possible point the number of new
employees to be brough to Washing
ton from now on, thereby avoiding
further congestion and housing
shortages, as well as reducing the
cost of the war effort. He has re-
peatedly emphasized that the salary
level and classification status of any
employe transferred should be pre-
served.
Inquiry at the Civil Service Com
mission q few weeks ago disclosed
that only eight agencies in the Gov
ernment had made no claim to par
ticipation in the war effort, while
the 10 major departments and %
independent agencies were listed as
devoted in whole or in part TO de-
fense work.
Within the past 10 days. however.
the administration has taken steps
to facilitate the transfer of en-
ployes from peace time to war
bureaus. President Roosevelt issued
several Executive orders, not only
to encourage transfer of personnel,
but also to consolidate scattered
housing agencies and group
branches of agriculture.
Priority List Issued.
Following up these White House
moves, the Budget Bureau on FRI
day issued priority list in which
Government bureaus were divided
into five classes to indicate the
degree of their relation to the war
effort. The Senate subcommittee
however, with a $4,000 allotment
from the contingent fund, will push
to completion its own survey of the
situation.
In this connection, it was said
yesterday that the Civil Service
Commission expects this week to set
up the unit that will be in charge
of these transfers. The commission
has been receiving on an average
Of 100 inquiries daily from employees
considering transfer.
Instead Of sending its question:
naire only to Cabinet officers and
the directing heads Of independent
establishments, the Tydings SUBJ
committee is beginning with the
smallest units in each branch of the
Government.
After the section chiefs have sub
mitted full details on their personnel
Continued on Page A-3, Column %