Evening star., 1951-10-01
The Federal Spotlight:
Hiring Is Severely Restricted
For Non-Defense Agencies
The Federal Spotlight:
By Joseph Young

By Josep
Severe restrictions against hir-
ing new employees in non-defense
agencies were ordered today by
the Controller General.
Controller General Lindsay
Warren ordered the restrictions in
connection with the Jensen-Fer-
guson personnel economy rider
approved by Congress as part Of
the 1852 independent appropria-
tions bill.
The rider was applied to most
non-defense agencies, but since
Congress worded. the amendment
differently in each appropriations
bill. today's ruling applies to- the
score or more Of the independent
bureaus. However, the bulk of the
ruling also applies to other non
defense offices as we'll. Exempted
from the economy rider are the
Defense. Post ONCE and Treasury
Departments.
Four Rulings in Decision.
The Controller Generals deci-
sion was in regard to the part of
the rider which allows agencies to
fill only Is per cent Of personnel
vacancies that occur during nor
NAL employment turnover. Once
Ia 10 per cent reduction in this
way is achieved. the proviso would
no longer apply.
In his Interpretation of the
rider. the Controller General
ruled:
l. Even though an agency may
have suffered budget cuts that
reduced its employment consid-
erably without regard to the Fer
|guson-Jensen amendment, it still
must I'LL only Is per cent Of the
vacancies that occur.
2. Agencies that have received
increased appropriations for the
new fiscal year may hire new en-
ployes without regard to the one
ln-four vacancy ban. However,
the new jobs that are filled will be
subject to the vacancy filling ban
whenever there is q turnover in
these positions.
Observed as Vacancies Arise.
3. Job vacancies that have been
filled between July / and August
80 will not be subject to the va
cancy filling ban. In other words,
an agency Is subject to this pro-
vision only after August 81. How
ever, If vacancies that occurred be-
tween July l and August 81 have
not yet been filled, they would be
subject to the Jensen rider.
4. Agencies are required to OBJ
serve the one-in-four rule as va
cancies occur. They cannot dis
regard it in expectations Of cir
cumventing it by waiting until
June 80 in hopes that 10 per
cent reduction in personnel funds
will be achieved by last-minute
turnover and dismissals.
Actually. the rider does not re-
quire q 10 per cent cut in person
mel funds. Outside of the per
cent minimum cut required, an
agency could avoid any further
cut II its turnover were small
enough not to effect q 10 per cent
reduction in employment. Also,
the agencies have the right to fill
vacancies without regard to the
rider with transfers from other
Federal bureaus.
| Civil Service Action Possible.
In this regard, the Civil Serv-
ice Commission may clamp some
sort Of restrictions on this practice
IN order that the intent Of Con-
gress shall not be circumvented
General Accounting Office officials
stressed that the effect of the
rider is to achieve Government
personnel cuts through not filling
vacancies. They said dismissals Of
present employees are not contem-
| plated in the rider.
| X 4 =
VETERANS HONOR - Bruce
Stubblefleld, chief of the Civil
Service Commissions veterans
service division. has received a
bronze plaque from the Disabled
American Veterans "for excep-
tional and meritorious conduct In
the performance Of outstanding
service for the disabled American
veterans"
FINE IDEA-The commission il
completing plans for placing Q
bronze bust Of Harry B. Mitchell
former commission chairman. ir
the rotunda of the commission
main building at Eighth and
streets NV. Purchased with fund.
Icontributed by commission EN-.
Iployes after the chairman's res.
ignation last March. the bus
was made by Jessie Lincoln.
1 Mr.. Mitchell is expected to bs
present at the formal presenta.
tion ceremonies that are planned
sometime toward the end Of the
year. One Of the commission
most outstanding leaders. MIR