Evening star., 1947-04-29
Bill
Raises Threat Of
u. 5. Demotions
House Committee
Protests 'Constunt
Uperoding' Of Jobs
By Joseph Youno

AAiC I1ouSc hppTOpTldClOIlS
Committee today struck a seri-
Gus blow at the Governments S
promotion system and raised the
possibility that thousands OF
Federal employees might have to
be denoted.
In reporting out the second de-
flciency bill, the committee expressed
its dissatisfaction with "the con-
slant upgrading of positions in the
Federal service"
1t placed a curb on future promo
tions by requiring that any agency
making future promotions must alb
sorb the total cost accruing from
these advancements out of their
current appropriations.
The provision forbids agencies to
upgrade employees from one CLASH
flcation to another if such a promo
tion will mean that the agency would
have TO come before Congress with a
deficiency request.
Dismissals May Result.
No deficiency appropriation will
henceforth be made. for this pur-
pose, the committee said.
Federal officials said the proviso
If upheld by the Senate, would dras-
tically curtail the number of grade
promotions and probably would re-
suit in many demotions.
They, added that a number of
dismissals were likely to result from
the new provision.
The officials explained that Gov
ernment departments are obliged in
many instances to reclassify Jobs
upward, with the attendant higher
salaries, in order to attract and
retain high-caliber personnel.
Some Furloughs Avoided.
II agencies are forced to absorb
all promotions out of current ap-
preparation funds, some of them
may find it necessary to downgrade
some of its less valuable employees
it was said.
Other bureaus may even find II
necessary to dismiss employees in
order to upgrade others, the off,
cials added.
The committee today voted
enough FUNDS to make it unneces-
sary for several agencies to fur
Tough some of their employees until
June 30, The agencies had re-
quested the money for salary pur-
poses to make UP the additional
costs brought about by last years
IA per cent Federal pay raise.
Out OF a total of $102, ,000, 900 asked
Tor salary purposes, the committee
allowed all but $1,000 900 of this re-
quest. Federal officials said the
amount would be adequate to see
them through June 80.
The departments involved were
Interior, Justice. State, War and the
Civil Service Commission, Federal
Communications Commission, Fed
eral Power Commission, National
Archives. National Labor Relations
Board, Tariff Commission, Federal
Works Agency, Library of Congress
and the Office of Government Re.
ports.
Other Federal departments previ-
ously mad been given enough money
TO avoid payless holidays.
S4,195,l37 for U. N.
In restricting Government promo
tlons, the committee said that in the
past, 1T has been the practice of
government departments either to
submit such items as efficiency esti-
mates or, if current funds were suf-
hcient to meet the costs for the re-
malnder of the year in which ef-
lectlye, to include the costs in the
next regular budget, purely as an
adjustment in the base of an an
preparation, and as an accomplished
fact"
Hereafter, the committee said If
sucn items appear as an increase
IN, the cost of the budget, they
must be presented before they can
become effective and must be iusti-
ned as an increase over prior
appropriations
In another action, the committee
approved $4,000 for dredging at the
washington National Airport. -,
The funds voted by the committee
m the deficiency bill totaled $685.
47S,658. The measure includes s4.-
ls5 5,347 for the United States par
tlclpation in the United Nations
sooo,oOO for Indian health services,
and s6o,3S2 600 for the Post ONCE