Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1945-07-28
FEpC Staff
May Be Shaved
More Than Half
Agency Continues
Consideration OF
Pending Cases
Nv ERNEST F Johnson

WASHINGTON - VA IN -
The Fair Employment Practice
Committee with industry mem
Der Charles Horn the only alb
sentee, sat down in a momentous
session all day Saturday and de-
voted its attention to:
/. Trimming it's staff, organi-
cation and functions so that it
may operate within the S250,000
begrudingly allowed 1t by con-
gress:
3. Exploring questions of au-
thority, policy and possibilities of
ava ling itself of outside funds
and or help to maintain current
efficiency and effectiveness:
3. Giving cursory consideration
to pend ng cases.
STATEMENT COMING
Formal comment upon the
committees discussions m u t
await a statement which will be
made this week, Chairman NAL
colin Ross said following the
meeting. cts a heart-breaking
thing" he remarked in connec-
ton with the organizational
changes which must be effected,
land I'd rather not discuss it un-
til we've had a chance to notify
our people"
From various sources, however
it has been automatically learned
that the cut in staff will be more
than half. Nearly 60 persons are
go ng to be dropped in almost
| Job classificatlons, the bulk OF
them being In the field. There are
now los persons in the agency
Of which 60 are here in Wash
ington.
The committee decided on the
! offices which it shall have to
close. Civil Service regulations
VII govern the manner in which
lay-offs will be effected, although
transfers to other agencies may
be arranged for some persons.
OUTSIDE HELP
Problems of reorganization
took up the major portion of the
committees time, but it weighed
some Of the ideas which have beer
developing in connection with
"outside help" 1t is not likely
than any public statement viii
be made on this subject, at least
for sometime to come.
Nevertheless, as it was pointed
out by one informed person, the
committee could not have con-
sidered the question without first
we Ching the legality of such a
procedure; and second the adj
visibility of proceeding accord
ingly, as a matter of policy, as
Stunning that it is legal.
Assuming it to be legal and
sound of policy, there are at leas
two alternatives which could be
followed, it is understood: l. a
private agency interested in the
work of fighting discrimination
could hire trained personnel ait
permit them to volunteer their
services to the FEPC; 2. interest
ed persons or private agencies
could raise funds. turn them over
to the U. S. treasury earmarkee
| for FEPC which draw upon them
| from TINE to time.
MAY UTILIZE VOLUNTEERS
In connection with the first
method section z of Executive
Order 9346 gives the committee
the right to utilize "such volun-
tary and uncompensated services
as may from time to time be
needed"
In connection with the second
method the Second War Powers
act authorizes the secretary Of
the treasury to accept gifts to
the United States from private
sources and for use in the pro-
secutian of the war effort. Tc
date close to 8 million dollars
has been contributed to the
government and have been usen
in purchase of weapons OF war.
Insofar as dollar-a-year men
are concerned only the Wa.
Production board is authorized
by law to use them. The salaries
of such persons are paid for by
the former employers, usually
corporations of various kinds.
1t is reliably reported that th4
one decision made by the COM
mittee on this subject was tina,
it would not pursue the secon'
alternative. A reason which is
understood to have carried much
weight with the group is tina,
this course would put IL in COM
petition with the National Coun-
Gil for Permanent FEPC in that
money so raised would in all pro-
liability be coming from the same
persons and groups who are now
supporting the council.