Evening star., 1947-03-02
Agency Heads; Resist
Personnel Cuts, Rees
Tells Retired Workers
By Joseph Young

Chairman Rees of the House Civil
Service Committee charged yester-
day that Federal agencies are re-
sisting Congress attempts to bring
about necessary reductions" in
Government personnel.
1t was the Kansan's first state
ment on reductions-in- force since
becoming chairman of the commit
tee. He asserted that Federal bu-
reau heads are most unco-ope-a-
tive" in the drive to reduce the
Government payroll.
Speaking to the National Associa-
ton of Retired Federal Employees,
Mr.. Rees said he was against in
discriminate firing of Government
workers, but stressed that the peo-
pie of this country are expecting"
Government personnel to return
to a peacetime basis.
I'VE now have the job of seeing
that reductions are made just as
promptly and effectively as pos
sible," Mr.. Rees declared. 1--WE
have mandate to retain only
services that are actually needed in
the postwar period"
Bureau Heads Resisting"
Mr.. Rses. charged that, instead of
co-operatings With Congress to bring
about necessary personnel reduc-
tions in an orderly manner, Federal
agency chiefs were resisting. :
II feel very deeply that we are
entitled to more cooperation from
Government agencies in this ques-
tion,"' Mr.. Rees declared. He added
that he was against "all these drastic
personnel slashes you read about in
the newspapers" but he warned that
substantial cuts will have to be made
"to get the country back on an
efficient, peacetime basis"
Mr.. Rees' committee will hold
hearings soon on the entire per-
sonnet problem and will summon
the various agency heads to deter
mine whether reductions in force
can be speeded up.
The Kansan shared the speakers
platform yesterday with Civil Serv-
-.
ming at the associations annual
meeting, held in the National Mu-
scum, Constitution avenue and
Tenth street NV. Both men praised
the record of the association, which
now has more than $4,000 members.
Mr.. Flemming declared the COM
mission supports legislation to ex-
empt from taxes the annuities of
retired Government workers. He
also said he favored inclusion of
survivorship insurance benefits in
the Federal Retirement Act.
With regard to increasing annuity
payments to meet increased living
costs, Mr.. Flemming said the COM
mission has not determined its
stand. He acknowledged that the
present retirement system could
stand many improvements, although,
he said, 1--WE have to acknowledge
that the Government has made
real and substantial progress in the
past years."
Mr.. Rees told members he would
make a vigorous fight on behalf of
his bill to tax-exempt the first
$1,400 on annuity payments.
Elmer johnson, 831 Rittenhouse
street NV, was reelected president
Of the association. Other officers
elected were Frank H. Craver, 7421
Blair road NV, first vice president;
Mrs. Anna H. McElroy, 1928 Porter
street NE, second vice president;
Max Abel, 1920 Tuckerman street
NV, secretary-treasurer; Arthur
Anderton, 827 Somerset place NV,
sergeant at arms; Guy H. Allen,
556 Varnum street NV, trustee for
three years; Miss E. E. Gardner,
2605 Adams Mill road, NV, trustee
for two years, and H. H. Marsh,
3515 Lowell street NV, trustee for
one year