Evening star., 1953-12-03
Puts Stokes Stroiqht

have read with interest Thomas
L. Stokes column November q entitled,
"New Look (G.O.P) at, the Federal
Trade Commission" There appear to
be inaccuracy and incompleteness in
his presentation, particularly regarding
the recent reduction in force made
necessary by budget cuts. Specifically.
I refer to the following remarks:
(1) %. dismissal of some so staff
members"
(2) g.. disproportionately large
number of diSmiSsals and demotions
were from the Bureau of Antimonopoly
and the Bureau of Industrial Econom-
les.
Campbell that no diSmiSSalS were neceS-
sary,
a. The headline anxiety of Small
Business, Co-ops and Farmers Seen
Intensified by Firing of 'Ablest' Mem
bers of Staff"
(5) g.. Mr.. Howrey appeared before
the Small Business Committee at the
time his nomination was being con-
Sidered."
May I offer in correction the fol-
lowing?
AS a result of the reduction in force
a total of 81 Commission employees left
the staff. This figure includes several
economists of temporary, indefinite
status on whom displacement notices
were received from the Civil Service
Commission under it's separated career
employe program.
In the reduction in force, every at
tempt has been made to spread the
reduction throughout the agency on a
fair basis. In accordance with the
provisions established by the commits
sion, the reduction was divided among
the various bureaus in direct propor-
ton with the ALLEGATION of funds. Be-
cause the Bureau of Antimonopoly is
the largest bureau, it has sustained the
largest reduction. The smaller bureaus,
like the Bureau Of Industry Co-opera-
ton and the General Counsel, have
lost fewer employees. Similarly. every
effort has been made to distribute
equally the reduction among various
grade levels.
Not one classified full-time employe
of the Bureau. of Industrial Economics
was separated from this agency.
Regarding the necessity to run a
reduction in force, the Commission had
to reduce personnel services to total
of $270, 900 below the current operating
level. The cut had to be made promptly,
for with every additional day the neceS-
Sary reduction. would have to be larger.
Senator Bricker has commended the
Federal Trade Commission for its con-
duct in the reduction in force neceSsi-
tated by reduced appropriations. Sena-
tor Bricker is chairman of the Senate
Committee on Interstate and Foreign
Commerce, which has jurisdiction over
the Federal Trade Commission. Sen
ator Bricker was impressed by Mr..
HoWrey's moves to strengthen and i'm
prove the enforcement of unfair COM
petition laws. Mr.. Howrey discovered
the commission had in existence to-
tai of 4,500 cease and deSiSt orders,
8,400 stipulations, and 180 sets of trade
practice rules. But no one at the COM
mission knew whether they were being
complied with. It is estimated that
these decisions depresent almost $100
million of the taxpayers money. yet no
action was taken to insure their ef-
fectiveness.
The chairman directed that the en-
tire reduction in force program be sub
mitted to the Civil Service Commission
for approval
No employees of the Federal Trade
Commission were fired" or had Serv-
ices terminated for cause. Every Sepa-
ration of employees was made in order
to operate within the limitation of our
appropriated funds.
Mr.. Howrey appeared before the Sen
ate Committee on Interstate and For
eign Commerce when his nomination
was being considered-not before the
Small Business Committee.
FitZhugh Green,
Executive Director for Public Affairs,
Federal Trade Commission.