Evening star., 1941-12-23
More Facts Needed

4IlC JOA1lU 1lieCt1ll6 Va tilc SCi4oeC
and House District Committees,
called to investigate the order for
the removal from Washington Of
twelve Federal agencies, was pro-
ductive of very little information
tending to justify such drastic step.
1t was undoubtedly this inability to
get at the facts which prompted the
congressional group to join unani-
mously in asking the President to
reconsider the order and, on the basis
Of the record which has been made
to date, it would seem wise for the
President to give favorable consid-
Grafton to this request.
Even under the pressure Of war
time conditions, it is very serious
matter to notify 10000 people-with-
out any advance warning-that they
must break up their homes and move
to some new location within thirty to
sixty days. Nor is this a matter
which ends with the 10000 workers
in the twelve agencies which already
have received their moving orders,
for it has been indicated that at
least as many more are slated to 90
in the near future.
Clearly, no such wholesale transfer
of a civilian population should be
carried out unless, as the result Of a
most careful study Of the entire
problem, it is established that no
alternative solution is possible. There
is nothing in the record Of the testi-
mony received by the joint commit
tee, however, which indicates that
such study has been made.
It has been stated that the plan
for evacuating the twelve agencies
was worked out by the Budget Bu-
reau. Yet the representative Of the
bureau who appeared before the
committee was unable to furnish in
formation as to the amount of time
and study given to the removal plan
or as to it's probable cost. So unin-
formative was his testimony that
Senator O'Mahoney commented
sharply: "You are here to speak for
the Government and apparently you
are unable to give US any informa-
ton"
Inquiries at the ONCE Of Planning
and Space Control have been equally
unproductive, officials there stating
that it was impossible to furnish any
details about the projected moves.
With regard to new quarters for the
Patent Office, which has been located
in the District for more than 100
years and which should not be moved
except as a last resort, officials here
are maintaining stony silence. Yet
New York real estate men seem to
have been given the impression that
the new quarters Of the Patent once
are slated to be in the Empire State
Building, and have been soliciting
local patent attorneys accordingly.
If the assumption we're not too
fantastic to be credited, one might
almost believe that Federal officials
suddenly came to the conclusion
that, more space being needed, GER
tain agencies would have to be moved
out and that those slated to 60 were
selected arbitrarily, without any
study or planning worthy Of the
name and possibly with more atten-
ton paid to the desirability OF quar-
ters they occupy in Washington than
to the wisdom of moving them out.
But, be that as it may, the obvious
fact remains that alternative solu-
tions do not seem to have been given
thorough consideration. AS pointed
out by District Budget Officer Fowler,
there are from 1000 to 5000 acres Of
land in the city available for any
use desired by the Federal Govern
ment. If the task were tackled ener-
getically, might not adequate tenn
porary structures be put up in these
areas in less time and less expense
than that entailed in the proposed
removals? Certainly, there is moth
ing to indicate that this, with other
alternatives, has received appro-
pirate study, and until such study is
made or until it is shown that it has
been made, the congressional group
should stand pat on its request for
reconsideration OF the order to move.