Evening star., 1949-09-04
Truman Asks Agencies
And Industry 10 Find
Jobs for $4,000

Jobs for $4,000
President Truman yesterday
called on Federal agencies and
private industry to help find jobs
for 5000 civilian employees being
dropped by the Department of De-
fense.
He asked the Civil Service Com
mission to give proper priority
consideration" in trying to place
them in other Government posi-
tions. He also requested all Fed
eral appointing officials to give
first consideration to career en-
ployes who have lost their jobs
through no fault of their own"
Declaring, however, that it
would be "unrealistic" to expect
that all those employees can get
places in the Federal service,
(which very properly is contract
ing in SIZE" the President made
q special plea to private employers
to Cooperate in this phase Of
postwar readjustment."
Sill to Be Dropped Here.
The Presidents statement came
10 days after Secretary of De-
tense johnson announced that
$4,000 civilian employees and 12.-
OTIS reserve officers will be re-
leased in observation-disclosures
program. The civilian group is
to include 10000 from the Army.
$1,000 from the Nary and $4,000
from the Air Force. The first
batch of 30-day dismissal notices
to more than $500 went out few
days later.
In the Washington area 5,171
will be released. These include
1856 from the Army. 3,270 from
the Navy and As from the Air
Force.
Secretary johnson told members
Of Congress that the reduction
would save 5000. 0.000, 900 during the
remainder of the current fiscal
year and about $500,000,000 an
nually thereafter.
He regretted the necessity of
firing anyone, he said, but he was
determined mot to tolerate de-
tense WPA." He said also that
the contemplated military estab-
lishment budget for the next
fiscal year will be $l.50o,000. 900
below this year.
While Secretary Johnson's plan
brought praise from some members
of Congress, there have been Wig
orous protests by several legis-
lators-particularly Senators Pep
per, Democrat. of Florida and
Knowland, Republican, of Cali
3ornia.
Presidents Statement.
The Presidents statement re-
ferred to Mr.. Johnson's announced
efforts to find other places for as
many as possible of the employees
scheduled for dismissal and to
safeguard their re employment
rights.
The Secretary several days ago
ordered Defense department per-
sonnel officers to provide for such
unemployment rights.
The Presidents statement fol-
lows:
Secretary johnson is making
all possible effort to place the en-
ployes who are being released from
the Department of Defense. In
addition, request all Federal ap-
pointing officers to give first con-
sideration to career employees who
have lost their jobs through no
fault of their own.
"I have asked the Civil Service
Commission particularly to con-
tinue its efforts to place such en-
ployes and give them proper
priority consideration for Federal
Jobs. am confident that every
effort will be made by the Federal
departments and agencies to CO.
operate fully with the commission
in hiring as many of these en-
ployes as can be effectively utilized.
LIT is unrealistic to expect, how
ever, that all these employees can
be placed in current vacancies in
the Federal service, which very
properly is contracting in size.
Many of the released employees
have skills that are not now re-
uuired in other Federal positions.
Therefore, I hope that they will
receive full consideration from
employers in private industry.
This reduction has affected en-
ployes who have given years OF
excellent service to their country,
and are highly skilled and efficient
workers. The facilities of the
United States Employment Serv-
ice, cooperating with the State
Employment Services, are at the
disposal of these employees and
hiring officials of business con-
Germs.
Through such a cooperative