Atlanta Daily World

D. C. Chauffeurs May Face Job Loss By Senate Act

WASHINGTON, D. C. (NNPA)- The Senate last Tuesday voted to deprive bureaucrats of their chauffeurs and cut down on the number of additional automobiles to be purchased by the Government during the fiscal year beginning July 1.

The amendment, proposed by Senator Homer Ferguson, Republican, of Michigan, will effect chiefly colored Government employees.

Most Government chauffeurs are colored, except for a few whites who drive for big shots, mainly Cabinet members.

While the restriction on the purchase of Government automobiles and the use of chauffeurs applies to Federal Security-Labor Department funds, the indications were that the economy bloc will seek to adopt similar restrictions on other appropriation bills coming before the Senate.

During the debate on the amendment of Senator Paul Douglas, Democrat, of Illinois to limit replacements of automobiles to 50 per cent to those that are worn out, it was broadly hinted that bureaucrats should use street cars, buses and taxis, as do the taxpayers who support them.

Senator Douglas told the Senate that there are nine full-time chauffeurs in the Labor Department in Washington and thirty-seven in the Federal Security Agency. He said there are forty-six full-time chauffeurs to drive cars carrying secretaries, administrators, under secretaries, assistant secretaries, assistants to the secretaries, assistant to the under secretaries, assistants to the assistant secretaries, and the heads of bureaus.

"If there is one service in our Government which needs to have its waistline reduced, it is these motor pools," Senator Douglas declared.

Senator Bourke B. Hickenlooper, Republican, of Iowa, complained that there may be seen in Rock Creek Park in the mornings probably 10,000 Government automobiles. "most of which seem to be driven by Government chauffeurs, taking lower-echelon employees to work so that they can get there by 9 o'clock."

Senator Burnet R. Maybank, Democrat, of South Carolina, said he had voted in the Senate Appropriations Committee to do away with 1,760 chauffeurs. In addition to 1,760 regular chauffeurs, he said there are 5,280 on part-time.

When Senator Ferguson offered the amendment on behalf of himself and Senator Styles Bridges, Republican, of New Hampshire, to reduce the number of chauffeurs, it was accepted by Senator Dennis Chavez, Democrat, of New Mexico, who was in charge of the bill, and agreed to by the Senate on voice vote.