Evening star., 1951-03-04
VinsonC CaIIsHaIt
To U. 5. Bids for
More Offices
Apartment House
Negotiations Await
Committees Action
By Crosby S. Noyes

Committees Action
By Crosby S. Moves
Chairman Vinson of the House
Armed Services Committee yes
terday called a halt to negotia-
tions by the Government for sew
eral District apartment build
ings and nearby school facilities
while the whole question of space
requirements for the Defense De-
partment and Civil Defense Ad-
ministration, is reviewed by his
committee.
Mr.. Vinson told reporters he
had conferred with officials of
the General Services Admins
tration on a pending bill which
would require review of all pros
pective leases for Government
Office space by his committee.
GSA is the agency through which
the Defense Department and the
Civil Defense Administration have
been shopping for new quarters.
AS a result of his conference,
the chairman said, GSA officials
had agreed to hold up the pres
ent deals until the House COM
mittee has had chance to look
into the matter. Mr.. Vinson in
dicated that the transactions are
not being called off, but simply
held lin status quo" for the time
being.
Decentralization Involved.
The leases involved are those
for the State and Boston Houses,
both new apartments on MaSsa-
chusetts avenue. proposed as Of
flee space for the Defense De-
partment, and Gelmarc Towers,
1880 Columbia road NV, ear
marked for CDA. In addition,
the committee chairman wants to
look into the proposed lease of
the former Longwood School,
near Olney, Md, for use as ma
tional Civil Defense staff college.
Speaking to reporters. MIR. Vim
son brought out the possibility
that consideration will be given
to decentralization of the civil de-
fense agency out of the Washing
ton area altogether.
What we have in mind" he
said. "is to see if a great many
of these defense increases can't
be assigned and carried on out
side of the District of Columbia"
So far as CDA is concerned, he
said he planned to hold "a hear
ing to see if we can't convince
them that there's no need for this
defense headquarters to be housed
here in Washington"
Hearing Set Tomorrow.
The question of present pend
ing leases will be taken up at a
hearing scheduled for 10 am. to-
morrow before an Armed Services
subcommittee, headed by Repre-
sentatives Clemente, Democrat, of
New York and Bates, Republican,
of Massachusetts,. The matter
of possible decentralization OF
civil defense will go before the
full committee.
Mr.. Vinson said he had asked
Federal Civil Defense Administra-
tor Millard F. Caldwell and his
top assistants to be -on hand at
a meeting, tentatively scheduled
for 8 pm. Tuesday. The Armed
Services Committee is holding
daily draft hearings during the
coming week.
Civil Defense officials are puz-
zled by the implication that Mr..
Vinson at this point favors ship
ping them out of the Washington
area entirely. The projected move
into Gelmarc Towers from their
present headquarters on a single
floor of the Cafritz Building has
been regarded only a temporary
answer to the space requirements
of the rapidly growing agency.
Expected to Stay Nearby.
CDA has tagged itself as one of
the Federal agencies that even
tually should be dispersed to some
outlying area, but still near enough
to the District to permit close
liaison with Federal and congress
sional officials. Mr.. Vinson, how
ever, appears to be talking about
decentralization, which, in mod
ern governmental Technology,
means getting out of the area.
Mr.. Vinson has been reported in
favor of relocating the agency in
a more centrally situated city than
Washington. CDA reaction to
this proposal is not expected to
be enthusiastic.
Mr.. Wilson's action today fol-
lowed closely upon another case
in which the chairman has stepped
abruptly into a Government land
buying transaction. Yesterday the
Air Force hastily abandoned a
plan to buy 1900 acres for a radio
communications center near Wal
dorf, Md, after Mr.. Vinson ex-
pressed his disapproval of the cir
cumstances surrounding the deal.
Heart Drive Gets $4,000,
n.eeae u.lf W,u M.xL