Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-01-06
THREE CENTS.
40.kiI|ion Fund
Sought 70 Keep
Agencies Here
Senators to Press
Appropriation for
Office Space

Appropriation for
Office Space
The Senate District Committee
today voted to seek an appropria-
ton Of $40.o00.0O0 for additional
temporary Office space In and near
Washington to forestall the plan for
moving Government bureaus to
other parts Of the country.
The committee, at a special ses-
sion this morning, which was at
tended by ranking members Of the
House District Committee, Endorsed
a proposal made by Senator Tydings.
Democrat, OF Maryland, to have q
resolution calling for the appropria-
ton introduced in Congress.
The committee. at the same time,
decided to send telegram to Pres
ident Roosevelt, asking him to
grant the Senate committee an early
opportunity to present to him the
data it has collected showing that
the Government can be kept in
tact in this area without any sub
stantial increase over the cost Of
moving agencies to other cities.
Hearings Continue.
Also meeting this morning to
consider aspects Of the same prob
lem was the Downs subcommittee
of the House. which has been con-
Quoting hearings on decentralization
for three months. This group heard
testimony by officials of the Ma
tional Labor Relations Board and
the Once of Price Administration
to the effect that it would be
impractical to move either agency.
The result of the Senate commit
tees action this morning. it was
indicated. will be the introduction
in the Senate of a resolution by
Senator McCarran. calling for the
$40 900 900 appropriation. The meas
ure probably will be referred to the
Senate Appropriations Committee
Only two members of the House
District Committee-Chairman RAN
dolph and Representative Dirksen
of Illinois-were present and they
were not bound by the Senate COM
mittee's action. but were requested
by unanimous consent to present the
proposal to the House committee
for consideration.
Tydings Leads Fight.
Taking the lead in the fight 70
avoid scattering Government Offices,
Senator Tydings told the gathering
an analysis of the report submitted
late yesterday by Public Buildings
Commissioner w. E. Reynolds shows
the Governments ONCE problem can
be met within the Metropolitan area
of Washington and that even if new
housing had to be built for the
workers not yet here The cost
would be only S2l 600. 900 more than
the cost OF moving a dozen agencies
elsewhere for the period of the war.
The Maryland Senator made no
immediate provision in his resolu-
ton, however, for additional living
Accommodations. pending a survey to
find out how many new employees
could be taken care of in existing
dwelling places.
To this end, he asked the Public
Buildings Administration to find out
how many private homes in WASH
ington could make room for one or
more Government employees. He
developed also the information that
1000 living units have been con-
verified into ONCE space by the
taking over of hotels and apart
ment houses for var-work agencies.
These living quarters could be re.
stored. he said. by building the ad.
ditional temporary Office buildings.
Representative Dirksen made the
only argument for transfer of some
Of the non defense agencies to other
cities, and said he was thinking OF
their permanent removal. because
the problem of providing for the
newer agencies here is going to be
progressive one. Mr.. Dirksen sug-
gested less expensive living ac-
conmoda tions would be obtainabls
in the other cities.
Contention Questioned.
Senators Tydings and McCarrarl
questioned this contention and
countered with a prediction that
a substantial part of the personnel
of the agencies to be moved would
not leave Washington. but would
transfer to defense agencies.
Their prediction was supported by
John Collier, Commissioner of In
dian Affairs. who said about 40 per
cent of the employees in the Bureau
of Indian Affairs here have indi-
| Gated they would not leave WASH
ington with the bureau.
Pointing out that the entire dis
cussion has centered around de
centralizing' the Government, Mr..
Collier said:
The Indian Bureau is already
decentralized We have only three
per cent of our personnel-380 en-
ployes-in Washington. Our field
staff is 5000"
He emphasized that 1t is lmpera-
tive for the bureau to have a head
quarters here because Congress is
constantly legislating directly on In
dian matters, and the Indian tribes
make regular visits to Washington
in connection with their legislation.
In the recent removal order the
Indian ONCE was slated to 60 to
Chicago.
New Space Estimated.
The $4,000 900 appropriation pro-
posed by Senator Tydings would
provide for 4000,000 additional
square feet OF temporary office space,
which it was estimated will be need
ed in 1913. after the completion Of
construction work now authorized.