Evening star., 1950-12-09
$4,000 May Go
On Night Shifts
In u. ). Offices
Public Works Hearing
Told Of Prospect if
Mobilization Comes
By Froncis P. Douglas

Some Government employee
again may find themselves work
ing on night shifts to save offic'
space if the Nation comes to tota
mobilization.
This wassindicated as Admins
tration officials testified yesterda!
before the House Public Work!
Committee on behalf of the $19t
million project of dispensing Gov,
ernment agencies into nearby
Maryland and Virginia. The dis.
persal plan is designed as a de-
fense measure against atomic
bomb attack.
The committee completed itS
hearing late yesterday. Chairman
Wilmington said members will
study the proposals for several
days before voting whether to
recommend its passage.
$4,000 Night Shifts Seen.
w. E. Reynolds, Public Build
ings Commissioner, told the COM
mittee that, in normal times
10000 employees can be accom-
modated in permanent Govern
ment buildings in the District. In
case of total mobilization, he
said, I'VE can house 100000 in
acceptable permanent buildings,
which includes second and third
shift operations" This would
mean $4,000 on night and grave
yard" shifts.
1t was pointed out elsewhere
that processing of applications in
price control and rationing proce-
dures and such things as filing
could be done at night as we'll as
during the day. The number as
signed to the after midnight shift
would be much smaller than the
number in second shift operations.
Assuming normal Government
employment of 10000 persons in
Washington, exclusive Of the mill
tary, and razing of the present
temporary structures, which now
house $4,000 persons. Mr.. Reynolds
gave this breakdown: A total of
10000 in permanent Government
buildings, $500 in leased build
ings, 5000 permanently moved
from the Washington area in
"decentralized" agencies, as dis
tinct from dispersed agencies, and
39,500 in eight buildings in the
Washington suburbs.
Sees 100000 Employees.
On the assumption there would
be 100000 employees under mo-
bilization conditions, Mr.. Reynolds
gave these figures: A total of 160,-
900 in permanent buildings in
Washington, $4,000 in leased
buildings, 5000 moved to other
cities and $1,000 in the dispersed
buildings.
In this case, in addition to the
permanent buildings on their
eight outlying sites, each accom-
modating 5000 workers, the Gov
ernment would erect a temporary
building at each site, also provid-
ing for 5000 or more.
Both Jess Larson, General Serv-
ices Administrator, and Mr.. Reyn-
olds put the number of employees
in decentralized agencies at from
5000 to $4,000. Whereas Mr..
Reynolds put the probable num-
ber finally at 5000. Mr.. Larson
put it at 10000. A list of the
agencies that might be transferred
to other cities is expected to be
completed by the end of this
month.
Agencies Considered.
There has been discussion about
moving the Federal Power Com
mission to Colorado Springs, Colo
Speculation on decentralization
also has included these agencies:
The Federal Trade Commission,
the Securities & Exchange Com
mission, which might be moved
to New York, where it already
has a large staff, and other in
dependent Offices and bureaus,
such as the Bureau of Mines.
The suggestion also has been
made that the Patent Office,
which was largely moved to
Richmond during World War II,
be moved again. This would af-
feet a large number of patent
attorneys in Washington.
1t was stressed by both Mr.
Larson and Mr.. Reynolds that
any removals this time would be
permanent.
The cost of the eight outlying
sites and eight buildings was put
at $17,850.000 each, and the $19(
million figure also includes $41
million for roads. Mr.. Reynolds
said this figure was scaled dowr
$23 million from an original esti-
mate of roads cost.
go Miles of New Roads.
Fred E. Schnepfe of the Public
Roads Bureau said it is estimated
that so miles of new roads would
have to be constructed and II
miles of existing roads would have
to be reconstructed. The aim would
be four-lane freeways to serve ,tht
buildings.
He said it is planned to use, 81
far as possible, present highway
radiating from Washington. HI
added, however, that some O.
them would have to be recon
structed entirely on new sites be.
cause of inadequacies. Some O
these radial highways might serv'
more than one site, but he sait
this was not true of all. He citet
U. S. Highway.240, which extend
from Washington through Rock
vile and Gaithersburg, Md, as in
adequate to serve several sites.
In one case, he said, reconstruc
ton would have to extend tW,
miles into WASHINGTON