Evening star., 1947-02-02

OF operations that enter into carry
ing out foreign policy.
Mr.. Humelsine cited these statis-
tics:
1. In February, 1946, the depart
ment handled 1880 kilograms, av-
eraging 1875 words, at cost of
100000. In November, it handled
5,264 kilograms, averaging 1913 words,
at a cost of $51, 1000.
2. On November 2, 1945, the aver
age time from receipt of telegram
until it was put in the hands of the
proper official to act on 1t was l6
hours. This was cut to 3 hours and
II minutes by last June and to 3
hours and minutes last month.
8. Similar handling time for "ur-
gent" code messages was s hours in
November, 1945. This was cut to
2 hours and "a minutes by last June
and to / hour and so minutes last
month.
4. Two years ago it took 16 days
to process a travel order. This was
cut to an average of two days last
month.
S. In February, 1916, it took an
average of go days to process a per-
sonnel action-that is, to add an
employe to the payroll, including
a rigorous security investigation
This was cut down to 20 days last
month. 1t would take only two
days if it were not for the time
consuming security check.
6. The department was eight
months behind in making automat4
ic in-grade promotions provided by
the Ramspeck Act year ago, when
approximately 5000 employees were
waiting for overdue raises. Last
month they were up to date.
Equipment Changed.
The savings in both cost and time
in handling coded kilograms was
attributed largely to changing from
manual to mechanical equipment.
In the budget for the next fiscal
year the department is asking ap-
proximately $1,0oO,oO0 less for tele-
graphic communications than it did
two years ago, despite a Is per cent
increase in traffic.
Officials say the department. s
handling of communications now is
as good as anything of its kind IN
the world. They give much of the
credit to Mr.. Scott, who had worked
in the War Department communica-
tions center before going to supreme
Allied headquarters, and to Navy
Capt. Lee w. Parke, chief of the
Cryptography Division. Capt. Parke
an Annapolis graduate, has been on
loan by the Navy to the State De-
partment for the last three years.
The department still is in "shak-
ling down" process from absorption
of several wartime agencies after
vi day, after tremendous expan-
sion itself during the war.
The number of department en-
ployes jumped from $40 in 1888 to
9,237 by the end of 1945. This was
cut down to approximately 1000
last month. Foreign service en-
ployes increased from 3,743 in 1888
to II, 500, by the end of 1946.
A further departmental personnel
reduction. affecting about 200 en-
ployes, was announced yesterday
This was attributed to accelerated
liquidation of certain wartime prof.
ects and shifts of emphasis in cur
rent programs" Thirty-day notices
will be sent to affected employees
during this month.
23q6 Are Veterans.
Mr.. Humelsine said % per cent Of
the departments employees now are
veterans.
The bulk of these, of course, are ir
comparatively minor jobs. But the
number of men with military ex.
perience in key posts makes an i'm
pressive list, without mentioning
Gen. Marshall himself.
The chief such policy-making Of
fetal is Maj. Gen. John H. Hilldring
retired, now Assistant Secretary oi
State in charge of policy for occu-
pied areas.
The military influence is heaviest
in the departments so-called lad.
ministrative area" where Mr.
Humelsine and the other former
general staff assistants work.
At the top of the administrative
setup is Mr.. Peurifoy, himself West
Point graduate. A physical condi-
ton that does not interfere with his
civilian activity kept him out of &C.
tive service during the war.
Working his way up in the de.