Evening star., 1942-05-02
Byrd's Charges
On 0.G.R. False,
.Me||ett Says
New Information
Center to Open
Monday Morning
Ry ]. A. FOX.

the truth" to Senator Byrd.
Democrat, of Virginia. Lowell
Mellett, director of the Off1ce OF
Government Reports, today an
Swered the statement made yes
terday in the Senate by Senator
Byrd, who said Government
agencies had spent s19 ,463 ,470
for publicity" in the past year,
and that $1,8O0,000 of this had
been spent by the Office of Gov
eminent Reports.
Mr.. Mellett said Senator Byrd
was repeating a statement he had
made many times and "one that ne
has every reason to know is un-
true"
Pointing to the expenditure al
legged against the o, @. r., Mr.. Mel
lett said he challenged Senator
Byrd TO prove that one nickel has
been spent for publicity concerning
the Office of Government Reports
itself-or its director"
When I appeared before Senator
Byrd's committee some weeks ago I
explained the functions of this Of
fee. none of which is publicity" Mr..
Mellett said. BY his statement OF
yesterday the Senator, in effect, Is
saying I lied to his committee. II
one of us is liar, it is not l."
Called Scandal by Byrd.
Senator Byrd, who has been q
bitter critic of Government pub
icity, described it in his Senate
speech yesterday as a scandal. Mr..
Mellett said today that "the Byrd
type of criticism is not honest"
He also defended the spending Of
Government funds for publicity,
saying that even if Senator Byrd's
statement as to the amount put
out is true. and obviously he is off
by at least $1,000, ,000," that the
Government still would not be
spending too much in an effort to
keep the public abreast of what
the Government is doing. ~
Mr.. Melletts statement was issued
at a press conference at which he
announced that the new informa-
ton center of the o. G. r. at Four
teenth street and Pennsylvania ave-
nue. would be open for service at
$50 m. Monday and that it would
stay open thereafter from $50 am.
daily until whatever hour at night
its services are needed.
1t will be open for public inspec-
ton from 5 to pm. tomorrow.
Saving Made on Cost.
Mr.. Mellett disclosed incidentally
that the center, which was the
subject of bitter debate in Congress
after it was ordered erected by
President Roosevelt and was to cost
$500, 900, actually has been COM
pleted at cost of $3.50 900, includ-
ing the contractors fee. -
The information center, Mr..
Mellett explained, lis to provide a
place centrally located in Wasf1-7
ington where the public-particu-
larly buSinessmen-and the Federal
departments themselves may obtain
quick, responsible information on
all Government activities"
The information center, he added,
is expected to relieve the strain
which the city and the Government
agencies have experienced because
of the scattered and unequal ar
rangementS for information which
heretofore have been available"
The staff of the o. G. R., NUMBER
ing about 500. has been augmented
by representatives of more than 30
Government departments who have
not only special knowledge of their
own agencies but experience In the
type of information service it is
proposed to provide, it was ex-
planned. ar
Other Services Absorbed. '''
Anticipating that most inquiries
will come from businessmen seeking
information on war business, Mr..
Mellett explained that part of the
staff of the War Production Boards
inquiry branch would be located at
the new center. Similarly, the in
quiry service of the Commerce De-
partment also has been absorbed.
1t was explained in this connec-
ton that the public information
service at w. P. B. has been at
tempting to furnish overall infor-
nation on Government activities
but that now it will confine its ac-
tiVities purely to production board
matters.
1t was also disclosed that the De-
tense Homes Registry. sponsored
by the National Housing Agency
and the Washington Board OF
Trade to furnish housing, will be
located in the information center.
1t Is now just outside the District
Building. The information booth
at Pennsylvania avenue and z
street NV. also will be moved into
the center, which is to house like
wise recruiting Offices for the Ma
rlnes and Coast Guard.
The information service will be
furnished in huge hall fronting
on Pennsylvania avenue. A circu-
lar counter. skirting almost the
length of the hall, will be stated
by clerks who will answer the oues-
tions. A special telephone service
also has been set up for queries.
The first question already has
been asked and answered. A taxi
driver pulled up to the information
center late yesterday afternoon with
fare who wanted to know where
Temporary S is located. He was
directed there.