plan. The city was informed it may Watershed work plan not yet completed. Loan docket about ready for submission. Preparing loan docket as per instructions Watershed work plan not yet completed. Watershed not approved for planning by Going ahead with preparation of docket. 1 Not given. FARMERS HOME ADMINISTRATION Status of watershed protection loan applications as of Mar. 12, 1959-Continued Mr. WHITTEN. The subcommittee will stand in recess. MONDAY, MARCH 16, 1959. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY WITNESSES RALPH S. ROBERTS, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE CHARLES L. GRANT, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND BUDGET OFFICER ERNEST C. BETTS, JR., DIRECTOR OF PERSONNEL FRANCIS R. MANGHAM, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF PLANT AND OPERATIONS JOSEPH P. LOFTUS, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT G. OSMOND HYDE, CHIEF HEARING EXAMINER, OFFICE OF HEARING EXAMINERS HUGH W. BERGER, CHIEF, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIVISION, OFFICE OF PLANT AND OPERATIONS 1 Includes capital outlay as follows: 1958, $24,766; 1959, $7,050; 1960, $7,050. Mr. WHITTEN. We come now to the Office of the Secretary. We would like to have pages 351 through 354 of the justifications included in the record at this point. (The material referred to follows:) OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY PURPOSE STATEMENT The Secretary of Agriculture, assisted by the Under Secretary, the Assistant Secretaries, and members of their immediate staff, directs and coordinates the work of the Department; formulates and develops policy; maintains relationships with agricultural organizations and others in the development of farm programs; and maintains liaison with the Office of the President and with Members of Congress on all matters pertaining to legislation and policy to insure effective performance of the agricultural programs. The Office also conducts the following activities: Personnel administration and service is carried on by the Office of Personnel, the staff agency of the Secretary with responsibility for the personnel manage ment program of the Department. Departmentwide leadership, supervision, and coordination are provided in employee performance and development, position classification, salary administration, employment, recruitment, placement, examination, separation, retirement, leave, personnel management, personnel investigations, employee health, awards programs, manpower utilization, personnel and records security, and employee safety. Operational phases of this activity have been substantially delegated to the agencies. A systematic review is made to measure each agency's effectiveness in serving its personnel management requirements. Budgetary and financial administration and service is carried on by the Office of Budget and Finance, the staff agency of the Secretary with responsibility for functions relating to overall administration of the budgetary, fiscal, and related affairs of the Department. It provides leadership and coordination of these activities throughout the Department, including the acquisition and distribution of funds, accounting, internal auditing, budgetary and financial reporting, organization and management phases of budget and fiscal activities, and related matters. General operations are carried on by the Office of Plant and Operations, a staff agency of the Secretary exercising general staff management direction of the housing of the Department's activities, including technical services on design and approval of related construction projects; the leasing of commercial space and matters concerned with management of real property; procurement activities; purchasing, warehousing, utilization and disposal of administrative and operating supplies and equipment, and related activities. The Office performs administrative service functions for the Office of the Secretary and operates certain departmental services in the District of Columbia, including telephone, telegraph, reproduction, duplicating, addressing and mailing, central storage and distribution of supplies and forms, and the departmental post office. Administrative management functions are carried out by the Office of Administrative Management, a staff agency of the Secretary responsible for departmentwide direction, leadership and coordination in the areas of management improvement, organization, administrative issuances, paperwork management, and committee management. Management analysis projects and studies are undertaken to improve administration and introduce new work performance techniques and equipment. Regulatory hearings and decisions include the work of the Office of Hearing Examiners and of the judicial officer. The hearing examiners carry out the provisions of the Administrative Proceduré Act relating to the holding of hearings (5 U.S.C. 1006, 1010). Hearings are held in connection with prescribing of new regulations and orders, and on disciplinary complaints filed by the Department, or on petitions filed by private parties asking relief from some action of the Department. The judicial officer renders final administrative decisions in regulatory proceedings, and is responsible for preparing Agriculture Decisions, a monthly publication containing decisions in connection with all quasi-judicial functions and administrative hearings of the Department. The Hearing Clerk Unit, which operates under the judicial officer, is responsible for receiving, filing, and acknowledging the receipt of complaints, petitions, answers, briefs, arguments, and other documents filed with the Department of Agriculture in connection with quasi-judicial and administrative proceedings under various regulatory laws administered by the Department. The National Agricultural Advisory Commission was established pursuant to Executive Order 10472, approved July 20, 1953. It reviews national agricultural policies and the administration of farm programs, and makes recommendations thereon to the Secretary of Agriculture. Composed of 18 members, not more than 9 of whom shall be members of any one political party and at least 12 of whom must be representative farmers from the several geographic sections of the United States, the Commission meets at the call of the Secretary of Agriculture at least once during each quarter of each calendar year. On November 30, 1958, employment in the staff offices comprising the Office of the Secretary under this appropriation consisted of 320 employees, 316 of whom were in Washington and 4 in the field. In addition, there were 157 employees under the working capital fund under which certain central services are performed for other agencies on a reimbursable basis. Proposed supplemental, 1959, for Pay Act costs. Activities transferred in 1960 estimates from "Salaries and expenses, the Secretary and his immediate assistants-- Base for 1960.... Budget estimate, 1960---- $2,668, 895 207, 505 4, 600 2,881, 000 2, 881, 000 |