Evening star., 1942-01-03
F. H. A. Could
Be Transferred,
Jones Testifies
Loon Agency Moves,
However, Not Feasible
House Group Told

House Group Told
Secretary Of Commerce Jones
acknowledged today under question
ing by the House subcommittee con-
Quoting hearings on decentraliza-
ton Of Government activities that
it might be possible to move the
Federal Housing Administration out
Of Warrington.
The Secretary said he had con-
ferred with r. H. A. omcials on .
proposed move to another city and
they had objected. He promised to
talk with them again to see what
could be done.
At the same time, Secretary Jones
made it clear he did not consider 1t
feasible Ito move any more loan
agencies out of the city" He said
"they must have daily contact with
defense agencies because all OF their
present work is on the war program,
and we are now trying to double up
and make space 60 as far as we can
because we need more space" He
reminded the subcommittee that the
Home Owners Loan Corp. moved to
New York City some months ago
and that about half its employees
secured transfers to other agencies.
R.F. C. Already Decentralized.
A memorandum showing the
amount of space used by loan
agencies and the number Of their
employees will be submitted to the
subcommittee by Mr.. Jones for in
sertion in its records.
The Reconstruction Finance Corp.
he testified, already is well decen-
tralized.
Representative Manasco. Demo
crat. of Alabama asked Mr.. Jones
if he believed many activities OF the
once of Production Management
could be decentralized. The Secre-
tary replied that 1t was q grea'
| inconvenience for employees Of old
line agencies such as the Paten
once to be moved, whereas man!
workers in the newer units have no
established permanent homes her
and would not suffer as much hard
ship if they were transferred.
Further removal of loan agencie
would decrease efficiency and In
crease costs, Mr.. Jones said Il
answer to a question from Repre-
sentative Downs, Democrat, OF Con
pecticut, subcommittee chairman.
Difficulty Explained.
One big trouble about decentral
ization of the older agencies, MI
Jones pointed out. is that employe
do not want to leave the city an
they can readily get jobs here u
other branches of the Federal serv
ice. -,
|, Mr.. Manasco asked if he consid
cred extra shifts and doubling up o.
the use of the ONCE space. Nj
Jones replied he had been question
ing the feasibility of doing that an
said it is q problem which shoul
be studied.
Questioned by Mr.. Downs o.
whether the war has increased tn
work of the r. F. c., Mr.. Jones sal
this agency has made $500, 600 90
in commitments on defense already
in addition to their regular wori
He said he is proud that his agenc
has been able to do this work S
quickly and with so little increase
expense.
Mr.. Downs announced the sui
committee would close its hearing
Tuesday and then report prompt
to the House Public Buildings an
, Grounds Committee. Ofi1cials OF tt
Interstate Commerce Commissio
. and the o. P. M. will testify Nor
day, while executives Of the Prit
Control Administration and the Nj
tional Labor Relations Board will
!, heard Tuesday.
Patriotic Appeal Made.
Malcolm Kerlin, administrative a
,, sistant to the Secretary OF Commerc
told the subcommittee yesterday tn
the order for transferring the Pate
!, once to Richmond had been issu'
!, without any hearing or study by Il
Budget Bureau. He said an ord
was issued in the Patent Once We
: terday appealing to the veteran er
: ployes mostly in the technical ella
r to stick "patriotically" with Il
! bureau in the transfer to Richmon
I but advising any who felt an Vi
l justified hardship was being impos
: that they could register for transf
l to other agencies which were to r
main in Washington. This was
. the interests of veteran employ
J. who have purchased their HON
= here, made church af1iliations al
!. who have children in the Distri
!. schools. He said that more than /
: had applied for transfer to M
i agencies connected with the nation
defense program, hoping that VIII
the emergency is over and the Pa
/, ent Once returns to Washingt'
that they can be reassigned to thu
old jobs.
Confidence that the great bulk
Patent once employees will pat
otically submit to hardships, co
tinue to carry on" in the Pate
Once service in the general intere'
of national defense, was express
4 by Mr.. Kerlin.
y Between SIS and go per cent of t
. employees own their own hon
. here, Mr.. Kerlin testified, tn
. average IS to 20 years of serv
!. and are 40 to IS years of age-a
. they will have to take their chan'
. on reinstatement after the emit
gency If they do not stick with tn
; present jobs.
= = Quotroin Disposes
ID OF Senator'S Estute