Evening star., 1943-10-08
Byrd
Continued From First Page.)

that the unobligated balance
brought forward on July / from
prior years was only SIS 5,000, 900 900.
Representative Taber, Republican,
OF New York developed testimony
that actual expenditure of the $l5,-
900 900 900 from previous years may
run through 1945 and into 1916.
Outlines Savings.
Mr.. Patterson said the War De-
partment has obtained savings of
$1,000 .000, 900 by renegotiation of con-
tracts. of which 81 900 900 900 is cash
and the rest in reductions on future
delivery prices.
He agreed with Senator Byrd it
would be better to Ak reasonable
contract prices in advance, and said
that effort now is being made. He
predicted when the war is over, the
criticism will be that the Govern
ment should have taken more, rather
than that it took too much.
DO you think there is much
incentive to a contractor to save. If
he knows you may step in at any
time?' asked Senator George, Demo-
crat, OF Georgia.
There Is If the contractor knows
the rules governing renegotiation." e"
Mr.. Patterson replied
About $500 of those let out were
transferred to private industries, he
said
Chairman Byrd asked if any of
the discharged personnel were re-
placed by soldiers. Some were. but
not substantial number, Mr.. Patter-
son replied. In general, he said,
WACS are used to replace soldiers
rather than civilian employees.
How many men in uniform are
doing clerical work." asked Sena-
tor BYRD.
Il don't think that could be COM
puted, because every company of
troops has clerk the Undersec-
retary said.
You could find out how manv are
doing clerical work in Washington, :"
Senator BYRD declared. and Mr..
Patterson said he would get that
figure later.
Senator Byrd told Mr.. Patterson
that Ito be perfectly frank. l don't
think these reduction figures mean
a thing unless We get breakdown
between those who were doing pro-
duction work and clerical service. -
One OF Mr.. Patterson's assistants
said he did not believe the commit
tee would want the detailed break
down but would furnish it later.
Senator Byrd wanted to know
what the WACS We see around
Washington do"
Mr.. Patterson said they replace
soldiers on switchboards. and some
drive vehicles In the motor corps.
Senator Byrd said tnat in the
Navy Department the ratio of
clerical employees to total personnel
Is to 5, and added:
What the committee is disturbed
about is that half OF the War De-
partments personnel is clerical"
Earlier. Mr.. Taber had given
figures indicating about 40 per cent
OF the War Department civilian per-
sonnel was clerical.
Can Enlarge Army.
Mr.. Patterson reminded the COM
mlttee that, while Gen. Marshall has
scaled the size of the Army down
from 100000 men to a goal of T.
100000 by December 81. this has
been done without prejudice to his
authority to raise the Army to g.
10000 II the situation demands"
Continuing, the Undersecretarv
declared:
1T should be emphasized that the
Army of 100000 by December 81,
l943, Is the minimum which the
chief OF staff states is required to
carry out the planned military op-
erations. 1t may have to be in
creased. The decision as to whether
or not 1t will have to be increased
cannot be made at this time. How
ever. the War Department has been.
and will continue to be on the alert
to e1ect all possible economy in
manpower and funds"
Later, Mr.. Patterson said: "Our
drive to increase efficiency and to
reduce manpower will continue, but
l do not promise that increased
activities will not occasion a CORE
spending increase in our employees, y