Evening star., 1942-01-02
Pittsburgh Out
As Wage-Hour
Headquarters
Choice Is Narrowed
To Two Cities
Nearer D. G.
BY OLIVER MCKEE.

The Wage and Hour Division and
Its 500 employees will be transferred
to one OF two cities more accessible
to Washington rather than to Pitts
bsrgh, Secretary of Labor Perkins
announced today in revealing an
other revision in the decentraliza-
ton program made public by the
Budget Bureau about two weeks ago.
No change has been made, how
ever, in the plan to move the agency
out of Washington. The choice has
narrowed to two cities, and the
Budget Bureau probably will make
a definite announcement of the one
selected by Monday. Secretary Per-
kins refused to identify the two
cities now under consideration.
Secretary Perkins revealed the
change in plans in speaking at a
special meeting of employees of the
Wage and Hour Division today at
the Departmental auditorium. The
disclosure followed closely the an
nouncement of Budget Director
Harold D. Smith late yesterday that
the entife immigration and Natur-
alization Service of the Department
of Justice will be moved to Phila-
delphia. Previously it had been
planned to shift only about $50 OF
the 1000 employees of this agency
to Philadelphia.
Today'S meeting was called by
Secretary Perkins and was attended
by practically all employees OF the
Wage and Hour Division.
Secretary Perkins revealed that
she had been notified by telephone
one evening at 6 O'Clock Of the order
transferring the division to Pitts
burgh and that five minutes later
she received a letter formally di-
recting the transfer.
Il made such protest as I could
against the shift to Pittsburgh. but
not much of protest could be made
under the circumstances" she told
the workers.
Continuing, she pointed out that
1t Is essential to make room in
Washington for persons in agencies
whose work is more directly related
to the war effort.
The transfer will be for the dura-
tion.7 Secretary Perkins said. I'VE
must recognize this fact"
Promises to Be Reasonable"
Secretary Perkins promised that
department officials will be reason
able" in considering workers re-
quests for transfers to other Fed
erAl agencies She warned. how
ever, that other agencies will be
shifted from Washington and that
the status of any agency not closely
identified with the war is uncertain.
The obligation to country is
paramount to personal considera-
tions," she said.
The division will set up special
committee to help Wage and Hour
personnel in transfer problems, Miss
Perkins announced.
The Wage and Hour Division is
one of the most important Federal
agencies and it will have a contri-
button to make in helping solve
problems facing tne country IN Cne
postwar period, she said.
In regard to the transfer of the I'm
migration and Naturalization Serv-
ice, it was planned previously to move
only the alien registration, certifi-
cation and education. and research
divisions. Attorney General Biddle,
the Budget Bureau explained, be-
lieved that it was desirable to keep
all the units of the immigration and
Naturalization Service together. in
stead of having the agency split up
between Philadelphia and Washing
ton. Hence the decision to shift all
six divisions.
Attorney General Biddle also
wished to cooperate in the Presi-
dents efforts to provide additional
Office space here for expanding de-
fense agencies, it was explained.
The immigration and Naturaliza-
ton Service now is scattered in
eight buildings in the District The
exact date of the removal to Phila-
delphia was not announced, but
the transfer probably will be made
in a few weeks w. E. Reynolds,
commissioner of public buildings,
has made arrangements for the
service to occupy two large buildings
In Philadelphia.