Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-01-06
Power 10 Shift
U. 5. Agencies
Is Questioned
Senote Committee
Meets = Find Way to
Keep I hem Here
By ]. IA. OTEARY.


Powers Act ret ntly passed by Con-
gress which 81 Is the President au-
khority to move Government agencies
out of Washington. Chairman Nc
Carran of the Senate District Com
mittee declared, as he called the
committee into special session at
l0:45 this morning in another effort
to find a way to avoid decentraliza-
ton.
An administration spokesman said
at the time the current decentral-
ization program was ordered that it
was being carried out under the
general administrative authority Of
the President and not by virtue Of
emergency powers 1t was recalled
that the shift to New York of the
Home Owners Loan Corp. had ante
dated the Presidents war powers.
Chairman McCarran called the
meeting after receiving report late
yesterday from Public Buildings
Commissioner w. E. Reynolds, esti-
mating it will cost s25 .304 900 over a
10-year period to move the IL
agencies listed for transfer to other
cities. as against a cost Of $3l 3d.
600 to provide temporary construc-
ton and housing to keep them In
Washington.
Senator Tydings. Democrat. of
Maryland. also a member OF the
committee. began a study of the
report last night. and joined Sena-
tor McCarran in seeking to work
out some solution that would avoid
necessity for decentralizing the Gov
eminent.
Senator McCaran has asked
Chairman Randolph Of the House
District Committee. Chairman
Maloney Of the Senate Public
Buildings Committee and Chairman
O'Mahonsy Of the Senate Subcom-
mittee on District appropriations
to attend today's meeting.
Questions Figures.
Senator McCarran questioned some
Of the figures in the report, which
was in response to a QUESTIONABLE
submitted to the Public Buildings
Administration after the last COM
mittee meeting. The Senator took
issue particularly with an estimate
that it would cost $40 per net square
foot to provide the temporary office
housing in Washington. This es-
innate was on the assumption there
are no more Government owned
sites available In questioning the
power to take agencies out of Wash
ington. Senator McCarran said:
IT the President is relying on the
War Powers Act. there is nothing in
either the letter or spirit of that
act permitting the transfer OF bu-
reaus from Washington"
The report from the Public Build
ings officials estimates that 5000
employe would be required by July
l, 1912, without reference to decen-
tralization plans, for the proposed
Government expansion both in and
near the District of Columbia.
Pre-War Increase Estimated.
Mr.. Reynolds included in his an
swer to the QUESTIONABLE a letter
from Jacob Crane. assistant CO.
ordinator of housing, discussing in
detail the housing projects planned
for this area, both by Government
agencies and private sources. This
letter said that estimates made be-
fore the United States entered the
war indicated the total Federal en-
ployment Civilian and military in
the Washington area would reach
232, 1000 in June. 1912. This would be
an increase of $4,000 over June,
ls41. and $4,000 over December,
1910.
"Acceleration Of employment in
creases as result of the war. I'M
less offset by transfers away from
Washington, will probably require
substantial increase in the housing
program set forth above read the
letter from Mr.. Crane.
The answer Of the public build
ings commissioner to the committee
QUESTIONABLE read, in part, as
follows:
What space. other than now &C.
cupied, have you requested for i'm
mediate use?
Answer: 100000 square feet.
Estimates Future.
what space. other than that
which you have available, will be
needed in the future, both in and
near the District of Columbia?
Answer: Indeterminate, prob
ably 1000, 900 to 100000 and adj
ditional housing If located as indi-
Gated by this question.
What space is now available. both
occupied and unoccupied, in the
District OF Columbia to take care Of
the increased load imposed by the
prosecution of the war?
Answer: None.
"What plan, If any. is now con-
templated IN the matter Of con-
struction of further additional
buildings?
Answer. Public Buildings Ad-
ministration has under construc-
ton, l,175,O0O square feet; Public
Buildings Administration has an
appropriation which will create by
June 80, 1912, 1900, 900 square feet;
available space in new War Depart
ment Building by June 80. 1912,
500 900 square feet.
This would make q total OF
3,l75,000 square feet availabo by
June 80. 1912. and indicates a
deficit of 100000 square feet at
this time.
Authorized space to be created
by Public Buildings Administration
between June 80 and December 81,
10000 square feet; completion OF
War Department Building, Deem
Der 81, 1000 900 square feet: avail
able December 81, 1912, 5,925. 900
square feet.
This indicates . deficit Of be-
tween 1.o75,000 square feet to
l,o0o, 900 square feet at this time"
Facilities Offer Problem.
The availability Of land for the
construction of both of1ces and
houses. in or near the District OF
Columbia?
Answer: Land is unquestion-