Evening star., 1941-12-30
Decentralization
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lIO1IzOlIOu
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before the Downs subcommittee to-
day. He testified that the commits
sion is service agency engaged
largely in war work, functioning
with the War, Navy and State De-
partments, other Federal agencies
and with embassies. 1t is highly
confidential in connection with po-
licing the ether for national defense,
| he said.
A great majority of the commits
sion's employees, Mr.. Bartlett said,
thousands Of radio stations and the
closest coordination Is required be-
cause there are constant changes
and interminable details. The COM
mission, he said, has carried decen-
tralization as far as it can efhciently.
There are 900 employees in the field
and BAL in the District, he told the
subcommittee No substantial in
crease in the District is anticipated
but large increase in the field
staff, he added.
Emergency Work Emphasized.
/ Mr.. Bartlett emphasized the emer-
gency character of the commissions
work and explained that cots have
been put in many Offices and they
have had two shifts as far as
feasible.
we have doubled up to have
space until efficiency is handicapped
to q loss OF about 30 per cent" he
said "All employees work substan-
tally in excess OF standard hours.
We have been compelled to request
increased space in Washington"
Mr.. Downs asked II the commits
sion could function If moved to
Chicago. New York or Baltimore.
Mr.. Bartlett replied. no" explain
ing that it is necessary for a large
portion of the stan to be physically
I present in Washington constantly.
This is permanent agency, he said
in reply to questions. adding that
many employees own their homes
, ilCIC dlit IL ~ hlONCu tllCy
would suffer a distinct hardship
But We are not considering a
question Of hardship to employees,
but to do our job the best we can
in aiding national defense Mr..
Bartlett said.
Seek to ForestalI Transfer.
Meanwhile Chairman McCarran
of the Senate District Committee
and Chairman Randolph OF the
House District Committee are seek
ing to forestall the Presidents
transfer Of Government agencies out
OF Washington, pending completion
Of the congressional hearings on
the subject.
Such a request to the President
was made yesterday afternoon by the
District Committee chairmen as the
result of meeting of their groups
last week, when it was decided to
/ seek delay while an alternative pro-
! posal could be formulated. This
would entail construction of emer-
/ gency office space and housing for
war workers, whose needs are re-
| sponSible for the current decentrali-
zation.
W. E. Reynolds, commissioner Of
public buildings, has been asked
to furnish the District groups with
data bearing on office and housing
facilities, and the President was ad-
vised that the committees are await
ing this before formulating their
alternative plan.
1. c. C. and F. c. c. Men to Testify.
The House hearing today was
/ continuation of that undertaken
some time ago, before President
Roosevelt ordered IL agencies sent
out of Washington.
/ Meanwhile. other developments at
! the Capitol in connection with the
decentralization plan were:
1-Ch9irman Bland Of the House
/ Merchant Marine and Fisheries
Committee wrote the President,
psking that the Fish and Wild Life
Service of the Interior Department
not be sent to Chicago. but located
at Maryland University. Paxtuent,
Md. or some other place in the
vicinity Of Washington.
Richmond Shift Protested.
2HCharles M. Palmer, patent at
torney Of Washington and New
York, filed with the House Patents
Committee a protest against the
compromise plan to shift the Patent
ONCE to Richmond, Va. He said:
THE Patent ONCE may be kept in
Washington and yet provide at
least 60 per cent of its space for
emergency Governmental purposes.
3-Repreeentative Randolph sug-
"ested in a LITTER to Commissioner
Reynolds, that a Temporary struc-
ire be built on the foundations of
tie new Central Public Library
Building on Pennsylvania avenue
near Sixth street NV, and used
during the war as an Office for
Federal agency.
Representative Bland told the
President he feared removal to
Chicago Of the Fish and Wild life
unit would seriously cripple it. since
many Of the employees would not 60.
Could Conserve Space.
Mr.. Palmer said In his letter to
the House Patents Committee that
the Patent Once could conserve
space and should remain h WASH