Evening star., 1949-08-24
Johnson Starts
$4,000 in
Defense Jobs
Navy Will Lay Off
10000, Army 41,000
And Air Force $4,000

$4,000 civilian employees and re.
turn 1908 Reserve officers to in
active duty in the drive to cut mill
itary spending. Secretary of De-
fense johnson announced today.
The dismissals already have be-
gun and will reduce the Navy by
$4,000, the Army by Al 900 and the
Air Force by $4,000. The Navy also
will be forced to close its Long
Beach (CalifD naval shipyard and
drastically reduce personnel at
number of other bases.
A total of 5,171 defense employees
in the Washington area are af-
fected, with more than 5000 Of
them in the Navy establishments.
Session at Pentagon.
Coincident with his disclosure
of the list of personnel and in
stallation cutbacks, Secretary
johnson met in closed session at
the Pentagon with memoerS OF
Congress from the areas most af-
fected. The conference was by
invitation to explain how the c. Is
will affect the legislators home
districts.
Members of Congress whose
home districts were severely hit by
the cutbacks made sharp protests
after Secretary johnson complet.
ed his explanation of the situa-
ton.
He told the gathering that the
economy program is aimed at get
ting "a dollars worth of defense
for every dollar you give u.s."
/ 1T goes back to my conviction
not to tolerate a defense WPA."
Mr.. johnson declared.
/. Others join in Protest.
Senator Pepper, Democrat, Of
Florida, whose State was among
the hardest hit. agreed there
shouldn't be a defense WPA. but
he said he doesn't want to see .
WPA elsewhere.
Joining in protest against the
cutbacks were Senator Knowland,
Republican, of California; Repre-.
sentative Doyle, Democrat. Of Cal.
ifornia, and Representative Skies.
Democrat, Of Florida.
Proponents of the economy drive
were Senator Ferguson, Republi-
can, of Michigan; Senator Hunt.
Republican, of Wyoming and
Representative Boykin, Democrat,
of Alabama.
Mr.. johnson said he hated to
fire any one but added that circum-
stances make it necessary. He
pointed out that the Russian ap-
proach over the months has been
that I'VE were going to have q
blowup in our economy"
! Delay in Program Costly.
! He said that the Nations de-
fense must be maintained within
the economy of the United States.
So far as civilian personnel is af-
fected, Mr.. johnson said, they are
being reduced because they are
not necessary in the suficiency Of
the defense of the United States"
Every day of delay in the econ-
omy program, Secretary johnson
declared will cost 81 900, 900.
| Mr.. johnson contemplates a
military budget of $13.400, ,000. 900
for the next fiscal year, which is
81 500, 100000 less than that for
the current year. The economy
program is estimated to save
5000, 100000 in the fiscal year
ending next June 80 and $780,.
600, 900 a year thereafter.
Congress has not yet acted on
the Armed Forces appropriation
bill for fiscal 1850 and may take
up the legislation in about q
week.
50 installations to Close.
A total of so installations will
be closed down and many others
will be cut severely in reductions
worked out by the individual
forces themselves.
Hardest hit Of the bases were
Long Beach. which is reduced
practically to custodial basis. and
the Brooklyn Naval Shipyard.
The Navy's civilian employment
at Long Beach was reduced from
5 800 to 400. The Brooklyn civil
ian roster was cut from 12,225
by 1885.
Secretary johnson said some Of
the personnel reductions already
have been made. The Army has
fired 5000 and will release an
other $4,000 by November /. OF
these 1000 will be made in per-
sonnel overseas.
The Navy already has dismissed
$4,000 civilian employees and
(See ECONOMY, Page A-3)