Evening star., 1949-07-01
New Buying Agency
Al Work for U. S.;
Larson Named Head
BY the Associated Press


The Government put a new
agency to work today at mass
purchasing for most Federal bu-
reaus, in a move to save money.
1t was suggested as an economy
step in the Government reorgani-
zation plan of the bipartisan COM
mission headed by former Presi-
dent Herbert Hoover.
Congress finished legislation
setting up the new General Serv-
ices administration yesterday and
President Truman quickly signed
the bill into law.
At its head Mr.. Truman placed
a former Army colonel and Okla
homa lawyer, Jess Larson, who
will be acting administrator.
Mr.. Larson has been serving as
Federal Works administrator. But
before that he was Uncle Sans
biggest merchandise statesmen,
disposing of billions of dollars
worth of surplus Government
property as War Assets admins
traitor.
Military Excepted.
His nomination for the job OF
general services administrator is
going to the Senate today. His
duties would be to handle prop
erty management and buying for
a group of major agencies. Some
Government departments, like the
military, will continue to do their
own buying and housekeeping
chores.
In selecting Mr.. Larson, Presi-
dent Truman asked him to see
that small business gets a fair
share" of Government contracts.
There is always the danger" :"
Mr.. Truman said in statement,
that the natural desire for fexi-
bility and speed in procurement
may lead to excessive placement of
contracts by negotiations and un-
due reliance upon large concerns.
This must not occur"
To Have IS Million Fund.
The President noted that the
law permits exceptions to the re-
quirement that all purchases and
contracts for Federal supplies and
services must be made by advertis-
ing for bids.
"a major reorganization of the
supply and housekeeping functions
of the Federal Government was
the Presidents summary of the
new plan.
The new agency will have a
100000 general supply fund
to do its buying.
1t will take over the functions
of the Federal Works Agency, in
Guiding the Public Buildings Ad-
ministration; the Bureau of Com
munity Facilities and the Public
Roads Administration; the Bureau
of Federal Supply and the Office
of Contract Settlement, which
have been in the Treasury Depart
ment; the War Assets Administra-
ton and the National Archives
establishment.
The name of the Public Roads
Administration is changed to the
Bureau of Public Roads. This
unit is due for transfer to the
Commerce Department under a
reorganization plan submitted for
congressional approval.
WAA Out of Existence.
The War Assets Administration
passes out of existence after dis
posing of surplus war property
with an original price tag of ST.
0OO,OO0,o0O for some s4.250 200, 900,
or about % cents on the dollar.
Still on it's books is an original
cost inventory of $1,829, ,000,0 900.
which represents for the most part
real estate now out on lease and
which eventually will be sold.
There also is about $3.50, 100000
worth of airplane parts, whose
disposal has been held up at the
suggestion of Air Force officials.
The WAA was in existence four
years and disposed of stocks that
covered cross-section of virtually
the entire industrial output of
the Nation.
At its peak, in November, 1946,
the outfit had 58,795 employees
stating Washington headquarters
and more than a hundred branch
Offices scattered over the country