Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-02-06

Park Planners
Backed for Top
Dispersal Role
Maryland Agencies
Want Capital
To Have Part
By Francis P. DouoIos

Maryland planners today in
dorsed proposal that the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission have a voice in the
program for dispersal of Govern
ment agencies to the Capitals
Maryland and Virginia suburbs.
Under a proposed amendment
to the dispersal bill before Con-
gresS, the commission also would
coordinate the planning by local
planning agencies for the outlying
Government buildings in coopera-
ton with the Government Services
Administration, and would become
the central Federal agency before
which the local planners could
present their points of view.
The proposed amendment like
wise would permit the commission
to receive Federal funds for its
planning operations in the dis
persal area and to furnish funds
to the local planners.
Proposal Made by Nolen.
The proposal was advanced by
John Nolen, jr.. the commission S
director of planning. He was a
witness today before House Pub
lie Works Subcommittee headed
by Representative Trimble, Demo-
crat, of Arkansas.
The subcommittee is holding
hearings on the bill to carry out
the Governments $3.50 million pro-
gram for dispensing agencies with
10000 employees as defense meas
ure.
The amendment was Endorsed by
Blair Lee III, former vice chair
man of the Maryland-N National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission and now a consultant to
that commission. Mr.. Lee said of
the dispersal program:
1--WE will take it cheerfully, but
It is not going to do us much
good"
Mr.. Lee said there is "a whole
welter of small planning commits
sions" in the area, which are try
ing to do business with GSA. He
said they wanted to use the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission as a originating
agency and as their avenue of ap-
proach to the Federal Government.
I'VE feel we want to hang to-
gether, rather than hang sepa-
rately," he said.
Highways Major Problem.
MIR. Lee testified that one of
the chief aspects Of the dispersal
plan affecting neighboring coun-
ties would be the building or i'm
provement of highways leading to
the six sites proposed for the out
lying buildings. The Bureau of
Public Roads would have a large
share in this.
AS an example of the problems
which might be encountered by
local governments and planners,
,Mr. Lee cited the public roads
bureaus plan for proposed
route for highway $40 from Fred
erick, Md, west of Rockville and
into Washington.
He said the bureaus plan is to
bring the highway in a straight
line through some of the incest
and quietest" residential parts of
Montgomery county, cutting
through back yards and even bed
rooms.
Fred w. Tuemmler, in charge
of the Prince Georges County Of
flee Of the Maryland commission,
also Endorsed the proposed amend
ment. He said one of it's advant-
ages would be that local planners
would not have to deal with a
multiplicity of Federal agencies.
He cited as an example of the
Federal Governments failure to
consult local Government agencies
the expansion of the site for the
National Institutes of Health. He
said it took in the proposed route
OF a cross-county highway.
Space Seen as Problem.
Some members of the subcom-
mittee, which is headed by Repre-
sentative Trimble, Democrat, OF
Arkansas showed by questions yes
terday that they feel the purpose
of the project is to provide more
space, rather than to protect
essential agencies.
Representative Davis, Demo
crat, of Tennessee remarked
why don't we be honest with
ourselves and say we need more
space and then go ahead and
build buildings?"
Representative McGregor, Re-
publican, of Ohio said the Gov
eminent cannot build safe shell
tiers for certain specific classes OF
people and not others.
isn't it true" he asked, chat
the basic argument is space and
not protection?"
w. e. Reynolds, public buildings
commissioner, who was then tes-
tifying. replied: "Just the re-
verse, in my opinion" He added
however, that since the respon-
sibility of providing space for Gov
eminent agencies is his, that
question looms large in his view
He declared the dispersal prof.
ect is for the purpose of protect
ing functions of Government, not
people.