Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-25
Pool Proposed
To Cut Use Of
Federal Autos
Byrd Unit Hears
Agency Heads
Outline PIon
BY JOE HICKMAN.

too many cars In proportion TO tn
needs OF Government agencies. IL
the opinion of some representative
Of major Government regulator
agencies. 1t was learned today from
a spokesman for the Byrd Commit
tee on Non-Essential Federal Elk
penditures.
The pooling arrangement" h,
said, would be similar to suggestion
given the committee for pooling O
Government tires to permit all bu.
reaus to share with agencies which
have large tire stock piles.
These recommendations wers
heard at conference held last week
by the committee, which was at
tended by representatives OF the
Once OF Emergency Management
ONCE Of Price Administration Once
OF Defense Transportation, General
Accounting once and the Budget
Bureau.
Aside from developing the fact
that some agencies have too many
cars In proportion to their duties
the committee spokesman said his
group would press further into a
plea from regulatory agencies to put
more teeth into law which
vaguely" stipulates that Federal
ears be used for official purposes
only.
Quantity Not Restricted.
Proceeding from the conclusion
that there are too many Federal cars
engaged in the work of Govern
ment, the committee spokesman
revealed, the conference group found
that this situation may be due to
blanket appropriations being given
an agency to buy cars, tires, ma
terial, etc, without any restrictions
on quantity.
He pointed out the only specific
law covering appropriations for
Federal cars Is an act for future
appropriations which was approved
by Congress July Is, 1914.
This law states in part; There
shall be submitted in detail esti-
mates for such necessary appro-
priations as are intended to be
used for purchase, maintenance, re-
pair or operation of all motor pro-
PEELED or OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
carrying vehicles, specifying the
sums required. the public purposes
for which said vehicles are in, and
officials or employees by whom the
sums are to Ee used"
0ENf Sef< Exar,nY~
Only in few cases, 1t was said,
have subsequent individual ap-
preparation acts put down how
many cars the sum of money allotted
by Congress would purchase for a
given agency together with how
the rest Of the money for mainte-
nance would be used.
The committee headed by Sena-
bor Byrd, Democrat, OF Virginia is
interested in the report that one or
one and half passenger cars are
required per l 900 employees in DEM.
This Is in striking contrast, the
spokesman pointed out, with some
Federal agencies. which have one
car for as few as 100 employees. The
DEM also reports an effective de
centralized pooling arrangement"
he said.
The OEM, which services 20 agen-
eies and $4,000 employees in Wash
ington, has 81 cars. Cars are avail
able to those requiring them at all
times, according to its report to the
committee. The plan is such that il
reduces mileage to an absolute min
mum, the report states.
For each trip form slip Is proyid-
cd the driver, which requires the
names OF the passenger, additional
passengers, car number, dates, loca.
ton, time, name of driver, destina.
ton, time dispatched and time re.
turned. and number Of minutes idle
The passenger must sign his nam,
under the statement, It hereby Ger
tify that this trip is made on officia
United States Government bust
ness"
Suggests Approved List.
According to the commute,
spokesman, the DEM representative
suggested that there would be al
Improvement in the use of Fedora
cars If there were approved lists o
officials for each agency"
Aside from the need for cracking
down on alleged misuse of Fedora
cars. the committee spokesman ex.
planned, it is recognized that legisla'
tive provision should be made fol
officials who need cars in such in.
stances where they have to enter.
tain distinguished visitors, which
he said, is a part of their response
bility.
He named such men as Vice Presi
dent Wallace. Nelson Rockefellel
and Donald Nelson as among tn
high officials who now do not hav,
propriety under the law to use Fed
eral cars to the extent they ma.
need them. He also pointed gu
that there is a reluctance on tn
part of such men to use Fedora
cars, even though they need then
An OPA representative, the com
mittee said, asserted itss almost i'm
possible TO enforce the same car an
gasoline restrictions against tn
Government as are enforced agains
the general public.
But the OPA has called for
per cent cut in mileage by all Fec
eral agencies, based on ls4l figure
and the appointment OF mileae
administrator in each agency, tn
representative told the committe
He disclosed, it was reported, thu
al States are now cooperating full
in a similar conservation program
The regulatory agency representa-
tives. the committee spokesma
stated. asked specifically for legisla
tive power TO police the use of Fec
eral cars. He said they expressed
need for a clear-cut definition {
official purposes, further than no
exist In the law He pointed oil
that they believe the present law
too vague"
Some Need More Cars.
Section 302 OF General Provision
Act No. 495, approved March II
1912, covers the use OF Federal car
rs follows:
No appropriation available 10
The executive departments and in