Evening star., 1947-05-25
FWA Is Not PLANNING
Any Decentralization,
Fleming Tells Wiley

An exchange of letters between
Senator Wiley, Republican, of Wis
consin and the Federal Works
Agency over the possibility OF de-
centralizing some of the Govern
ment's activities here was made pub
lie last night.
Senator Wiley, expressing his fear
that the country's future security
might suffer from "over-concentra-
ton" of Federal activities in Wash
ington, asked FWA Administrator
Maj Gen. Philip B. Fleming If the
agency had any plans to shift some
agencies here out of town.
In reply, Gen. Fleming said the
F'WA has no decentralization plan,
pointing out that "the providing of
space by us is a service function
only" The FWA chief said, how
ever, that he did favor maximum
decentralization" of field offices, but
at the same time he qualified the
statement by saying that admins
tration functions of departments
and agencies should remain in
Washington. Most Government ac-
tivities here are of an administra-
tive nature.
d. C. Projects Listed.
Senator Wiley also asked what
major Federal building plans the
FWA had for Washington in the
near future. Gen. Fleming listed
four projects that are needed
new General Accounting Once
Building. completion of the new
War Department Building at
Twenty first street and Virginia
avenue, now occupied by the State
Department, new Navy Depart
ment structure, and rather large
Office building" to permit the re-
moval of the temporary buildings
on the Mall.
The Senator's advocacy of Gov
eminent decentralization was the
second time in recent weeks that
a member of the Wisconsin con-
gressional delegation urged such a
move. Representative Stevenson.
Republican. of Wisconsin made q
similar request.
Senator Wiley also called on the
Budget Bureau for a report on his
suggested decentralization to escape
what he called menace" He
said "it seems that the wartime
decentralization from Washington
has been reversed with most agency
units being returned to town. No
reply had been received by the
Budget Bureau up to last night.
Senator Wiley's Office said.
Fleming's Reply.
In the reply to Senator Wiley.
Gen. Fleming wrote:
THE Federal Works Agency as
such has no plan for decentraliza-
ton, since the providing of space by
us is a service function only. At the
beginning of the war, we recon-
mended decentralization as far as
possible and this was done. How
ever, some of the decentralized
agencies have been returned to
Washington and others are re-
questlng TO do so.
I'VE find that the sentiment in
Congress from contacts made with
us is divided on this general ques-
ton. Those agencies that were
moved to Washington and those
requesting to be returned contend
that when they are away, the heads
thereof must spend good deal of
time in Washington for contacts
with department. heads and with the
Congress, especially in matters of
legislation. On the other hand.
there has been complaint from the
Congress that when an agency has
its headquarters in Chicago for in
stance, they are unable to quickly
get answers to problems that may
be presented to them.
Personally I am in favor of
maximum decentralization and
have. in the Federal Works Agen-
cy, extended to our field divisions
maximum responsibility for action.
believe, for example, that the ad-