Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-21

Chairman Johnston of the
said today his bill to reduce Fe,
would result in material adval
Far from hurting Federal !
of increasing their chances for
the South Carolina Democrat .
single employe" would have to
be laid off.
Senator Johnston's bill, to be
introduced later this afternoon,
would allow Federal agencies to
fill only one out of every -four
personnel vacancies from the
outside that occur, starting July
l. 1858. The vacancy-filling re-
striction would apply until the
Government payroll was reduced
to 2.125,0 900 employees. There are
now 2.401 APO employees.
Senator Johnston said he
planned to have his committee
hold immediate hearings on the
bill. With the economy mood
pervading Congress. Senator
Johnston predicted the Senate
would approve his bill.
The South Carolinian said a
smaller Federal payroll would
make Congress. as well as the
public, more sympathetic to in
creased benefits for Federal
workers such as pay raises. etc
AS long as the Government pay
roll continues at its present
swollen" level, the mood in
Congress as we'll as the general
public is opposed to increasing
Federal employee benefits, Sem
ator Johnston said.
81 Billion Saving
I The 100000 reduction in Fed
eral jobs would save more than
81 billion year. Senator Johns
ton said.
4 Under the bill, rs per cent of
vacancies that occur through
normal personnel turnover in
Government could not be filled
until the 100000, reduction is
achieved. The total of 2.l25. 600
jobs that would then be estab-
lished would remain in effect as
a ceiling on Federal employ
ment.
! The ban on filling rs per cent
OF the vacancies would act as
a boon for promotions for de-
serving employees by preventing
outsiders from being hired IN
most instances. the Senator de-
clared. He said the vacancies in
most cases would be filled
through the promotions OF
present employees. The ban on
filling vacancies would apply to
hiring new employees and not to
filling them through promotions
or transfers Of present employees.
Senator JohnSton's bill caused
quite a surprise on Capitol Hill
/ The Senator. a strong friend
of Federal employees. FASTENED
to assure Federal employee lead
ers that such a measure would
not hurt their cause but help it.
II;t. Sea =. Asn~
The Senator charged that
the Eisenhower administration
either hasn't the will or doesn't
possess the know-how necessary
TO trim excess Federal EMPLOY :
ment." The 2.l25.O00 employ
ment goal set by Senator John
ston represents the number Of
Federal jobs prior to the start
of the Korean war in 1850. plus
/, 10 per cent.
| Administration officials initial
reaction to the Johnston bill was
that the South Carolinian was
playing politics with civil service
matters" They declared the
measure was being introduced
TO "embarrasS the administra-
ton, in the knowledge that such
a vacancy filling ban would
wreck essential Government
functions and dangerously i'm
pair the Nations defense
Senator Johnston disagreed.
He said: II do not propose TO
weaken or slow up our defense
effort or impose any undue hand
leap on our other essential ac-
tivities. 1t is my conviction that
the reduction can be made with
out in any way disrupting nor
NAL operations
CORDINER REPORT - De-
Tense Department officials say
Secretary Wilson's press con-
ference remark that he will soon
propose legislation to carry out
some of the Cordiner committees
Recommendations applied to the
military personnel but not to
civilian employees.
Defense officials said Mr.. Will
son has in mind some modified
pay system adjustments for
military personnel. AS far as
civilian employees are concerned.
Mr. Wilson has mt vet had q