Junior administrative assistant, CAF-7. Under general supervision, with wide latitude for independent and unreviewed action or decision, assists in planning and supervises the coordination and distribution of information among the various sections of the United States Information Service and makes available to the liaison officer such information for distribution to the Office of Government Reports and United States Information Service field offices; obtains information from press releases, the United Press news ticker, representative newspapers, and other departments and agencies, evaluates and verifies the information, and interprets it in terms of governmental organization; plans the classifying, digesting, and recording of the information so as to make it readily available to the Personal Service and other sections; supervises the preparation of a daily digest of news of organizational developments within the various departments and agencies, together with any other news of interest to the United States Information Service; supervises the preparation of memoranda of spot news of sufficient interest and importance to warrant immediate distribution to those dispensing information; anticipates the necessity for the compilation of various types of information and makes assignments of specific tasks; arranges the contacting of other departments and agencies to ascertain their functions and organization; and performs related work incidentally as assigned. Principal research clerk, CAF-6. Under general supervision, with wide latitude for independent and unreviewed action or decision, performs difficult research assignments on a wide variety of subjects pertaining to governmental organization or activities, either in response to special requests, or in anticipation of future needs; exercises control over requests for information made by information clerks and specialists and gives clearance to requests to do independent research where the information desired is not already available; guides the information clerks and specialists in locating data quickly; prepares a daily digest of news of organizational development within the various departments and agencies, together with any other news of interest to the United States Information Service; prepares memoranda of spot news of sufficient interest and importance to warrant immediate distribution to those dispensing information; makes telephone or personal contacts with responsible individuals in other departments and agencies in order to verify or clarify information regarding governmental organizations or activities; obtains data for informational record cards on governmental boards, committees, and commissions, and on nongovernmental organizations of all types; and performs related work incidentally as assigned. Research clerk, CAF-4. Under general supervision, with latitude for independent and unreviewed action or decision, obtains data for and maintains current informational records of the personnel and organization of Government departments and agencies; classifies and digests press releases and other sources of information in the approved form; obtains data for and maintains informational record cards on all boards, commissions, and committees and on nongovernmental organizations of all types; prepares lists of boards, committees, and commissions of related purpose in response to special requests; prepares a current index of the material contained in the President's press conferences as they appear on the ticker; assists information clerks and specialists in the speedy location of data required by them in answering inquiries; and performs related work incidentally as assigned. File clerk, CAF-4. Under general supervision, is responsible for the classification and filing according to subject matter of all source material in the informational vertical files, consisting of press releases, newspaper clippings, magazine articles, digests of the reading files, contact memoranda submitted by the information clerks, and all other source material not on the library shelves; supervises the digesting of the reading files and contact memoranda as a source of material for future reference and to prevent duplication of effort in gathering information; serves as the official representative of the Office of Government Reports on the Records Administration Committee; and performs related work incidentally as assigned. Assistant file clerk, CAF-3. Under general supervision, digests, classifies, indexes, and files informational material contained in current reading files and contact memoranda for future reference and to prevent duplication of effort in gathering information; assembles and arranges materials for the vertical informational files; pulls and charges out from the files material requested by information clerks or others; and perform related work incidentally as assigned. Junior stenographer, CAF-2. Under immediate supervision, takes and transcribes nontechnical dictation consisting of correspondence, memoranda, reports, and digests containing information relating to Government organizations and activities; with responsibility for arrangement, types various lists and compilations and cuts stencils for United States Information Service Daily Summary and other mimeographed material; and performs related work incidentally as assigned. Under general direction, with wide latitude for independent and unreviewed action or decision, plans, and directs the operations of the Editorial Section which is responsible for the editorial excellence and format of all material prepared for public distribution by the United States Information Service or the Office of Government Reports. As editor of the United States Government Manual, a 700-page reference book published three times a year, confers with heads of all Government agencies or their authorized representatives relative to copy for the manual, involving the suggesting of changes in order to make copy conform to space limitations and the challenging of statements that appear to be repetitious or inconsistent, and entailing constant alertness for changes which affect material in process; maintains contacts with the Government Printing Office in the production of the manual and other printing jobs; makes decisions on content and formats; develops plans for manual promotion through this office and the field offices, bringing to the attention of field offices experience here and in other States; designs and writes copy for posters, leaflets, etc., and writes short articles on the manual for Federal and private publications; supervises the accounting in connection with manual distribution and sale. Directs the production of the Digest of the Purposes of Federal Agencies, a summary of information contained in the United States Government Manual, published once a year, and the production of government organization and national defense charts, directory lists, miscellaneous informational leaflets, and the 48 State directories of approximately 100 pages each. Directs the compilation of material for the Executive Office of the President and the national defense sections of the Congressional Directory; edits for accuracy manuscripts on Government organization and functions submitted by Federal offices and private groups and individuals. Does original writing in connection with informational leaflets on activities of the Office of Government Reports and the United States Information Service, annual report of the United States Information Service, and articles on Federal organization and functions for yearbooks, almanacs, and encyclopedias. Performs related work as assigned. Assistant head, Editorial Section, CAF–7. Under general supervision, with considerable latitude for independent or unreviewed action or decision, assists the head, Editorial Section, in supervising the operations of the Section which is responsible for the editorial excellence and format of all material prepared for public distribution by the United States Information Service or the Office of Government Reports. As assistant editor of the United States Government Manual, confers with heads of Government agencies or their authorized representatives relative to copy for the manual, involving the suggesting of changes in order to make copy conform to space limitations and the challenging of statements that appear to be repetitious or inconsistent, and entailing constant alertness for changes which affect mate rial in processs; maintains contracts with the Government Printing Office in the production of the manual and other printing jobs; makes decisions on format; designs and writes copy for posters, leaflets, etc., and writes short articles on the manual for Federal and private publications. Assists in supervising the production of the Digest of the Purposes of Federal Agencies, government organization and national defense charts, directory lists, miscellaneous informational leaflets, and the 48 State directories. Assists in supervising the compilation of material for the Executive Office of the President and the national defense sections of the Congressional Directory; edits for accuracy manuscripts on Government organization and functions submitted by Federal offices and private groups and individuals. Does original writing in connection with informational leaflets on activities of the Office of Government Reports and the United States Information Service, annual report of the United States Information Service, and articles on Federal organization and functions for year books, almanacs, and encyclopedias. Acts for the head of section in her absence, and performs related work as assigned. Senior editorial clerk, CAF-5. Under general supervision, with only the most difficult or important features of the work reviewed, performs difficult editorial work entailing thorough familiarity with the organization and functions of Federal departments and agencies; edits for grammar, accuracy, content, and style, copy for the United States Government Manual, Digest of the Purposes of Federal Agencies, State directories, and other publications of the Office of Government Reports; prepares lay-outs; reads final proof, performs research to clarify inconsistencies in copy or to obtain citations of laws, Executive orders, etc.; makes decisions on subject headings and form of manual index and special indexes. Writes copy based on Executive and administrative orders and legislation for inclusion in the United States Government Manual, rewrites sections of the manual to achieve uniformity in style or to conserve space; makes recommendations to the editor on the contents of the manual; makes abstracts of manual copy for use in the Congressional Directory and Legislative Reference Service of the Library of Congress; writes articles on Federal organization and functions for inclusion in yearbooks, almanacs, encyclopedias, etc.; checks for content and accuracy articles prepared by other organizations for their own publications but submitted to this office for clearance on accuracy and coverage. Is responsible for the compilation and complete production of the following publications: Government organization and national defense charts; information leaflets; 48 State directories of from 50 to 100 pages each, containing listings of regional and district offices of Federal departments and agencies, with names of officials, addresses, and telephone numbers, similar listings of State departments and officials, and geographical indexes. Is responsible for writing sections of and for the general style of the Digest of the Purposes of Federal Agencies; and performs other editorial tasks incidentally as assigned. Senior editorial clerk, CAF-5. Under general supervision, with only the most difficult or important features of the work reviewed, performs difficult editorial work entailing thorough familiarity with the organization and functions of Federal departments and agencies; edits for grammar, accuracy, content, and style, copy for the United States Government Manual, Digest of the Purposes of Federal Agencies, State directories, and other publications of the Office of Government Reports; prepares lay-outs; reads final proof; performs research to clarify inconsistencies in copy or to obtain citations of laws, Executive orders, etc.; makes decisions on subject headings and form of manual index and special indexes. Writes copy based on Executive and administrative orders and legislation for inclusion in the United States Government Manual; rewrites sections of the manual to achieve uniformity in style or to conserve space; makes recommendations to the editor on the contents of the manual; makes abstracts of manual copy for use in the Congressional Directory and Legislative Reference Service of the Library of Congress; writes articles on Federal organization and functions for inclusion in yearbooks, almanacs, encyclopedias, etc.; checks for content and accuracy articles prepared by other organizations for their own publications but submitted to this office for clearance on accuracy and coverage. Is responsible for the compilation and complete production of the following publications: Bibliographies; special indexes; directory lists of chief clerks, executive officers, information and publication offices, legal divisions, libraries, personnel officers, etc., of all Government agencies; reference list of national defense publications; and performs related editorial tasks as assigned. Editorial clerk, CAF-4 (2 vacancies).. Under general supervision, and subject to review in all but the less important details, edits for grammar, accuracy, content, and style, copy for the United States Government Manual, Digest of the Purposes of Federal Agencies, State directories, and other publications of the Office of Government Reports; coordinates and marks copy for the printer; prepares lay-outs; reads proof; subject to a cursory review, prepares subject indexes and bibliographies; participates in the make-up of publications; guides typists in setting up forms of material to be printed or duplicated; is responsible for the complete production of the smaller and less involved compilations, such as bibliographies and other material prepared by the Library and Research Section; generally assists senior editorial clerks by doing the foundation work and rough drafts on assignments to be completed by the latter; and performs related work incidentally as assigned. Assistant record clerk, CAF-3. Under general supervision, is responsible for all record and accounting work in connection with the distribution and sale of the United States Government Manual by the United States Information Office and field offices of the Office of Government Reports; maintains records on all published material supplied to field offices and to the various sections of the United States Information Service; maintains records of manual orders and sales, and accounts for and transmits funds derived from such sales to the Superintendent of Documents; prepares and forwards mailing lists to the Superintendent of Documents; prepares instructions to field offices with respect to the sale of manuals; and performs related work incidentally as assigned. Assistant clerk-stenographer, CAF-3 (2 vacancies). Under immediate supervision, takes and transcribes dictation in connection with the work of the Editorial Section, with brief instructions as to the general content, composes and types routine correspondence; types involved copy, requiring careful interpretation of corrections made by editorial clerks and others; sets up forms necessitating the exercise of skill and judgment; occasionally reads and corrects proof for type, form, grammar, etc.; requiring a knowledge of proofreader's marks and familiarity with the Government Style Manual; and performs related tasks incidentally as assigned. Senior typist, CAF-2 (2 vacancies). Under immediate supervision, types copy for the United States Government Manual, State directories, directory lists, bibliographies, indexes, and other publications; working from involved rough draft, retypes corrected copy of material for publication; makes inserts for printed copy, cuts stencils; types form letters; types correspondence and fiscal statements in connection with the work of the assistant record clerk; maintains files of reference material; and performs related tasks incidentally as assigned. The Statistics Section has been in operation in the past under the Division of Field Operations and is being transferred in full to the United States Information Service. A COMPLETE STATEMENT AS TO THE NEED FOR THE SERVICE YOU PROPOSE TO RENDER, IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT PRACTICALLY EVERY DEPARTMENT AND AGENCY OF THE GOVERNMENT NOW HAS A MORE OR LESS COSTLY AND WELL-MANNED INFORMATION BUREAU There are two types of information offices in many Government agencies. One is that which prepares information for use by newspapers, radio, and other media of general dissemination. The other is designed to answer questions of individual callers and give directions to visitors seeking specific offices or officials. The United States Information Service does not engage in any of the activities of the first kind-nor does any other division of the Office of Government Reports. Briefly, we issue nopress releases. Our operation is solely of the second kind. It differs from those in other agencies in that it deals with inquiries concerning, not a single Government department or agency, but concerning any or all Government activities. The operation now planned will also go much further. It will maintain at one point a clearing house of information for the service of the public, departments and agencies of the Federal Government and Members of Congress. The service will be designed to eliminate the present need tocall on or telephone many offices before reaching the proper person in Government to handle inquiries or give decisions in some instances. In the new building a large information room is provided on the first floor, staffed by clerks. The public's first contact will be with these clerks who will be competent to answer the great majority of questions. Individuals with questions too complex for these clerks will be directed to offices adjoining the main reception room, staffed by specialists whose job will be to analyze their problems. The staff specialist will be able to give conclusive information or direct the inquirers, by appointment, to the person or persons who can take final action on his problem. Furthermore, liaison men from the principal Government departments and agencies will be located in the central information office. In many cases these men will be able to take this final action. Two benefits are expected to result. First, the inquirer coming to Washington will not find it necessary to go from one office to another throughout the Government for an answer to his problems; and secondly, the time of the busy officials of the various departments will not be taken up by individuals whose problems don't involve them. As to the need for the service, I believe the President summarized it in his letter directing us to expand the facilities of the United States Information Service. The President's instructions, contained in a letter dated February 2, are attached. THE WHITE HOUSE, Washington, February 2, 1942. Mr. LOWELL MELLETT, Director, Office of Government Reports, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. MELLETT: Citizens are coming to Washington in increasing numbers seeking information and the assistance of their Government. Many businessmen are attempting to obtain advice and direction for the utilization of their facilities in the war effort. It has become more and more difficult for those coming to Washington on specific business to locate the Government official who can give authoritative answers to their questions. As a result many of the departments and agencies have expanded their information divisions. It is now necessary that they be an integration of the various offices having direct contact with the public and that their activities be coordinated under the direction of a central office. As President of the United States and Commander in Chief of the armed forces, I, therefore, direct you as Director of the Office of Government Reports to (1) expand the facilities of the United States Information Service so that visitors shall have one central place to which they can go for direction and information; (2) inform department and agency heads of my desire that they each assign such of their personnel to duty in this central office as may be necessary to carry out this general purpose. I further direct that you transmit a copy of this letter to the heads of all Federal agencies. Sincerely yours, FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT. Mr. MELLETT. Now, question 6: "The estimated number of new employees to occupy the new building, the range of salaries, and the total cost." That has been covered, but there will be a total of 102 additional employees of the United States Information Service in the new building, plus 20 liaison officers detailed by other agencies, and 31 additional employees in the Office Service Section of the Administrative Division. The new employees of the Administrative Division will consist of— 1 CAF-4 at $1,800 2 CAF-3 at $1,620 7 CAF-2 at $1,440 7 CAF-1 at $1,260 1 CU-5 at $1,500 |