Evening star., 1951-04-17
Air Force Holds Up
Training Of 1ypists
Al Federal Expense

stenographers and typists at Gov
ernment expense In the Washing
ton area have been held up for the
time being as the result of an in
curry started by Chairman Byrd
of the Joint Congressional Econ
omy Committee.
The Virginia Senator made pub
lie q letter from Eugene M. zuck-
ert, Assistant Secretary OF De-
tense for Air. It revealed that
Robert Ramspeck. new chairman
Of the Civil. Service Commission.
also has questioned the proposed
establishment of such q training
program here. - Mr.. Zuckert told
Senator Byrd the proposal is be-
ing discussed with Civil Service
officials land in the meantime we
do not propose to approve any
additional contracts"
Senator Byrd began looking into
the practice Of putting inexperi-
enced persons on the Government
payroll and then sending them to
school for brief training course.
when he received complaints from
Dayton. Ohio
The Dayton complaints related
to Air Force efforts to recruit
enough civilian employees for the
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
in that city to keep pace with the
expanded procurement program.
Referred to Controller General.
Senator Byrd said he is refer
ring the question also to the Con-
troller General Ito determine the
legality of expenditures already
made, and to the Appropriations
Committee for a determination as
to. the future of the practice" !"
The Senator said he also has been
advised there is serious question
as to the Civil Service status Of
at tending business
schools under the Air Force ar
rangement.
The Senator said a news story
in an Ohio paper explained the
Air Force would pay for the
courses. with students putting up
between So and $40 for their
books.
The luxurious furnishings of
some of the Governments emer-
gency agencies has drawn the fire
of the Joint Congressional Com
mittee.
In report released last night
the committee reported that five
of the six emergency control
agencies already have spent more
than 81 million for furniture and
supplies. including more than a
quarter Of a million dollars for
the most expensive type furniture
ESA Hardest Hit.
The Economic Sterilization
Agency came in for the most Sc
we're criticism. having spent $780,
900 for furniture and supplies,
including nearly $4,000 for easy
chairs and nearly $1,000 for dav-
exports.
Senator Byrd provided an anal
ysis showing that ESA has pur-
chased 95- easy chairs at $156.46
each and 26 dayenportS at 1858
each. g. @
In noting these expenditures.
the COMMITTEES. commented that
the emergency control agencies
were still in their infancy" The
group warned that the agencies
expenditures jr1 this regard would
develop INTO amulti-million budg-
ct item unless checked.
The committee recommended
that immediate steps be taken
both by Congress and the execu-
tive branch to prevent use of the
most expensive furniture where
less costly items will suffice and
to preclude abuses of Government
contract purchase requirements
in "the name of emergency"
Agencies Involved"
The agencies involved in the re-
port were the Defense Transport
Administration. Federal Civil De-
fense Administration. Office of
Defense Mobilization. National
Production Authority and ESA.