Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-03-30
Personnel
Continued From First Page

Of certain departments does not CO.
incide with their professed need for
working employees overtime"
The chairman added that reports
of similar conditions are coming in
from all parts of the country and
that these also will be investigated
Mr.. Lasseter detailed the results
OF what he described as "cursory
check" for several days at the Agri-
culture Department. This showed
that on one day 308 employees were
breakfasting between 8 and 10 am,
although they were supposed to be
at work at g.
Stanley Williams, chairman of the
administrative council of the de-
partment, said an order prohibiting
the serving of food after $50 had
been signed Saturday. He said that
about a month ago serving Of coffee
between 9 and 10 was suspended. A
year ago, he continued, such sales
were prohibited entirely, but en-
ployes complained.
Representative Kilburn, Republic
can, of New York commented that
if employees could be absent from
their desks in large numbers dur
ing working hours, 1T seems to me
your department needs to study
your employees and fire a lot Of
them"
Several members of the committee
inquired If the heads of the depart
ment had ever brought conditions to
the attention of the supervisors, but
the witness said not to his knowl-
edge.
i hope you take this message
back to Agriculture, Chairman
Ramspeck said, that this committee
and Congress expects them to do
something about It,"
Carlton Hayward, personnel officer
Of the WPB, said he had taken up
this particular problem with officials
on several occasions. and that he felt
an improvement has been worked.
He said two supervisors had been
dismissed
you don't object to people going
out and getting a drink If they have
been working several hours?" he was
asked by Representative Manasco,
Democrat, of Alabama.
Yes, do" the witness responded,
adding that this practice is lust a
habit and leads to abuses.
Mr.. Manasco. however, and Repre-
sentative Klein. Democrat, of New
York. said they believed workers
should be allowed brief interludes
for rest, and Mr.. Lasseter said the
investigation was not directed at
this matter, but only at the practice
of eating meals during Office hours.
Kenneth o. Warner. director of
personnel at OPA, said measures
were being taken there to improve
conditions, and J. H. Mason of the
War Department said the subject
had been receiving attention for
some time and that responsibility
had been placed on the supervisors.
Mr. Manasco inquired as to the
possibility of depriving chronic Of
tenders of overtime pay and said
the idea should be explored" Mr..
Mason agreed that it was an 'in-
teresting possibility"
Across the Capitol Senator Hol-
man, Republican of Oregon. accused
Federal departments of "sheltering
draft dodgers engaged in nonessen-
tial activities"
Speaking at q Senate Military
Committee hearing on the Austin
Wadsworth bill to draft men and
women into war jobs. Senator Hol-
man expressed considerable alarm
about the present waste of man
power" in the Government and
urged the American Legion and
other patriotic organizations to "di-
rect their attention to thorough
housekeeping" of Federal agencies
Turning to witness, Morris F.
Devine of Manchester, N. H.. chair
man of the American Legion's Ma
tional Legislative Committee. Sem
ator Holman asked for comment on
his statement.
Il definitely approve Of those
views" Mr.. Devine replied.
Mr.. Devine told the committee the
Legion for more than 30 years has
believed in national service legis-
lation and is convinced that enact
ment of the Austin Wadsworth bill
will shorten the war.
Contending the inadequacy of the
present voluntary working methods
is apparent to ALL" Mr.. Devine
added that IF the present confused
and confusing system is allowed to
continue our war production is likely
to break down."