Evening star., 1947-07-12
Agency Return
Hinges on Stand
|0f Conferees
Senote Group Votes
5000, 900 to Bring
1850 to District
By Joseph Young

The eventual return Of out-of-
town agencies employing about $500
persons depended today on the
stand Of House conferees toward
5000 appropriation voted by
the Senate Appropriations Com
mittee to bring the bureaus back
to Washington.
1t is estimated that about $500
employees would return and that
another 1000 jobs in the agencies
would be available due to the ex-
pected refusal of some out-of-town
employees to come to Washington
The sum was voted for the Public
Buildings Administration, which
still must iron out the matter OF
office space to house the agencies.
PBA stressed, however. that the
$500, 900 was needed If the ;F"re-de-
Capitalization" program were to
be carried out.
House Refuses Request.
PBA's 100000 request had been
refused by the House because, at
the time the request was made, no
definite program for the return Of
the agencies had been effected.
Since then, however, PBA outlined
program for the return of the
agencies and presented it to the
Senate Appropriations Committee.
Under PBA's program and condi-
tions imposed by the Senate group.
the Securities and Exchange Com
mission, which now is in Philadel-
phia, will be the hrst agency to re-
turn. 1t employs about 900 persons.
Other agencies that would be re-
turned are the Interior Depaft-
ment's National Park Service, Indian
Affairs ONCE and the Fish and
Wildlife Service. These bureaus
have total Of about $50 employees.
Other Groups Listed.
Also the Veterans Administration
insurance actuary Office and the
Bureau of Employees Compensation,
both of which are in New York, and
employs a total of $50 workers:
immigration and Naturalization
Service in Philadelphia. with about
$40 employees, and the Fourth Reg
ional ONCE of the Civil Service
Commission, now in Winston
Salem. North Carolina, which has
about 200 employees.
All these bureaus were moved out
of-town during the war as q de-
naturalization measure.
In reporting the independent
Offices appropriations bill, the Sen
ate Appropriations Committee al
lotted 1924 ,006, OPT to more than a
score of Federal agencies, which is
$126, 1877 900 over the amount voted
by the House. The bulk of the
funds-$6, ,871 ,532 ,080-goes to the
Veterans Administration.
Chairman Bridges said that "after
a hot argument and very close
VOTE" the group approved $75,-
900 900 increase for the Atomic En-
ergy Commission over the House
amount.
Personnel Criticized.
"Some of us didn't have too much
confidence in some Of the personnel
down there" Senator Bridges told
newsmen, referring to the Atomic
Commission which Is headed by
former IVA Chairman David E.
Lilienthal.
In its bill, the committee recon-
mended that the ONCE of Govern
ment Reports be given 100000. If
allowed to stand, this would protect
the jobs Of about ITO of the bureaus
$50 workers. The House has ordered
the bureau abolished.
The Maritime Commission also
came in for more liberal treatment
by Senator Bridges group. It was
given 81, ,439 ,00e more in salary items,
which would permit the recall of
about $50 of the agency's 1,lo0 en-
ployes now on payless furloughs.
Also, the committee gave the War
Assets Administration $25 5000 900
more for salaries than was voted
by, the House. If upheld or even
partially upheld by House Senate
conferees. this will prevent mass fir-
ings of thousands of WAA employees.