Evening star., 1948-03-18


were voiced by Civil Service Com
mission officials who first admin
istered the civilian personnel recruit
ment program starting back IN
| l939-40.
Clerical and professional level en-
ployes in all Federal bureaus, who
for one reason or another have not
attained permanent status, would
have first crack at the new jobs
opening up, these officials say. And
a national recruitment program
would have to be set up to recruit
the other necessary personnel, II
Congress authorized large prepar-
edness program, it was said.
AS we disclosed the other day, the
Air Force may hire from $1,000
to 10000 civilian employees. Att
least another 10000 civilian en-
ployes would have to be hired by the
Army and Navy Departments under
any sort of military defense pro-
gram, officials believe. And they say
q full-scale program would mean
the hiring of many more thousands
of employees.
Several thousand employees would
be needed in selective service head
quarters here, If Congress adopted
President Truman's draft recon-
mendations. And the defense pro-
gram would necessitate consider
able personnel increases in the
State Department and the so-called
sensitive" agencies.
Government officials believe that,
under these circumstances, WASH
ington's Federal employment, which
is now around 200, 600, would soar
over the 225, 900 mark. And the
present Nationwide Federal en-
ployment of 1000, 900 would 60 up
in the same proportion.
+ Il X
PAY RAISES-Administration in
siders say that President Truman
will sign any Federal pay raise bill
that comes to his desk after May l.
Although Mr.. Truman, "as Of
now," still is opposed to Govern
ment wage boosts, White House Of
f1cials confide he will approve any
pay legislation passed by Congress
after the May date.
This is the reason given for Mr..
Truman's stand: In January, he
opposed pay raises, declaring that,
lif Congress enacted his -infla-
ton program, wage boosts wouldn't
be necessary. At the same time,
however, the President said that, If
Congress did not do so, he might
change his mind.
Mr.. Truman now is said to have
decided to give Congress until May
l to enact his program. If it doesn't
do so-and all indications are that
it will turn deaf ear to the ad-
ministrations proposals-Mr. Tru-
man will 60 on record as favoring
Federal pay raises.
At least, that's the story admins
tration officials are telling House
and Senate Civil Service Commit
tee members in strictest confidence.
These officials don't want the Presi-
dents present opposition to dis
courage Congress from passing q
pay raise bill.
It's certain now that both the
House and Senate Civil Service
Committees will approve pay raises
for Government employees within
the next few weeks. But the type
of pay bill that ultimately will reach
the House and Senate floors still is
I'm 0aysfn -
ever, it appears temporary type leg
islation as embodied in the Rees bill
has the best change of passage.
ON AGAIN-The on-again- of
again investigation of Government
Services, Inc, by the Senate Civil
Service Committee appears to be
on again.
After it appeared that the COM
mittee had decided to drop the in
vestigation of the nonproflt cor
poration which operates So Federal
cafeterias here, the committee has
resumed its draft of report con-
cerning GSI activities.
The first installment of the COM
mittee's report, which was issued
more than half a year ago after
extensive hearings, was sharply crit
ical OF many OF .GSI's activities
And now, the committee is drafting
second phase of the report which
deals with GSIs financial opera
tions.
Under the committees plan, a
final report. which will contain spe-
cific recommendations concerning