Evening star., 1943-11-22
Byrd Assai|s
War Agencies
Promotion Pace
Report Specifies Four
Sources Where U. S.
Can Drop SOC, 900

Further reduction in the num-
ber OF Government employees and
a more uniform system Of be-
tween-grade promotions were
recommended by the Byrd Econ
omy Committee last night in it's
second report since June on Fed
eral personnel problems.
Although finding the Government
has made net reduction of 131O58
In personnel since the June report,
the committee insisted a cut of 300,-
900 still could be made. It specified
four sources from which that num-
ber OF employees could be dropped, as
follows:
Reduction in the clerical, admins
trative and fiscal force of the War
Department, 150,00Oy elimination of
employees through better personnel
management, 100000; curtailment of
the stats still employed by the
Work Projects Administration, Ma
tional Youth Administration, Re-
gional Agricultural Credit Corp,
Farm Security Administration, Civil
ian Conservation Corps, Bituminous
Coal Consumers Counsel, National
Resources Planning Board, Board OF
Legal Examiners and the domestic
branch of Once of War Informa-
ton, $4,000; elimination of employees
through uniflcation Of lending agen-
cies In the Agriculture Department,
$4,000.
Promotion Policy Assailed.
The committee, headed by Senator
Byrd, Democrat, Of Virginia. charged
there have been an excessive num-
ber OF full-grade promotions. and
said they are granted more rapidly
in war agencies than in old-line de-
partments.
During a six-month period from
December, 1912. to May, 1943, the
committee found that in the entire
classified service 20.7 per cent of the
employees received at least one full
grade promotion. Eight 'old-line de-
partments showed a similar rate of
grade promotions-190 per cent.
However, some war agencies show a
grade promotion rate above 40 per
cent, and 13 at or above 80 per cent.
These studies plus those in the COM
mittee's first personnel report show
that many employees in the upper
ranges are jumped four or more
grades in a two-year period or less,
while other employees, as well quail
fed, wait many years for a single
grade promotion. Therefore, the
committee recommends that a more
uniform, equitable and economical
between-grade promotion policy be
instituted Immediately in all the
and agencies"
Sharp Warning Issued.
The committee called on the
Budget Bureau to intensity its efforts
to effect major reductions In Fed
eral personnel" by exercising the
authority contained in the Byrd
LANCER amendment to the Overtime
Pay Act. This act directed the bu-
reau to review the necessity for the
existing number of employees in each
agency.
In a sharp warning to the Budget
Bureau and the Civil Service Com
mission, the committee continued:
Figures for September, 1943. show
that there are now 2 1854, ,4O5 Federal
civilian employees. Some agencies
have curtailed recruiting, and a few
substantial reductions have been
conSummated. The committee is of
the opinion that, despite achieve
ments, its recommendations have
been disregarded in many instances.
Moreover. the First Overtime Pay
Act had little salutary effect.
1T is because of this failure of
the Bureau of the Budget. the Civil
Service Commission and the various
departments and agencies to effect
recommended reductions that the
committee deems it necessary to is
sue this second personnel report on
Federal employment. Should this
second request be disregarded, the
committee will believe it necessary
to recommend legislation to the
Congress of the United States which
will make reductions in Federal
civilian employment mandatory"