Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-02-06
Nearby Counties
Declared Cool
To Dispersal
Planning ConsuItont
Testifies Before
House Committee
By Froncis P. DouoIos

BY Francis P. Douglas
Montgomery and Prince George.
Counties will take the Govern.
ment's dispersal plan cheerfully
but feel sit is not going to do III
much good"
Congress was told this today by
Blair Lee III, former vice chair
man of the Maryland Nationa.
Park and Planning Commission
and now a consultant to that
commission. E
He testified before the Public
Buildings subcommittee of The
House Public Works Committee
which is considering the $3.50
million plan to disperse Govern
ment agencies into Maryland ano
Virginia as defense measure,
Mr. Lee described Montgomery
County as a bedroom county.
He added that a survey showed g;
per cent of the homes in the coun'
ty constitute drain on thu
county's finances.
Amendment Postponed.
They pay less in taxes than thu
cost of the services required, HI
explained. He added that differ.
ence is made up by the taxes or
business concerns and the few
small industries.
John Nolen, jr., director Of
planning for the National Capita
Park and Planning Commission
urged the pending dispersal bill
be amended so that his agency
would participate in the planning
necessary for the program, CO.
operating with the General Serv-
ices Administration. The amend
ment also would permit the COM
mission to receive Federal funds
for this activity and to furnish
funds to local planning bodies.
Mr.. Nolen explained that the
commission is supported by Dis
trict of Columbia funds, and il
would not be fair to take money
from the District for planning
work in an area 20 miles out.
Lee Backs Nolen Plan.
Mr.. Lee Endorsed the Nolen pro-
posal. The Maryland Planning
Commission is a State agency with
jurisdiction in parts of the two
Maryland counties.
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 co-ordinating
agency and as their avenue Of ap-
proach to the Federal Government.
1--WE feel we want to hang to-
gether, rather than hang sepa-
rately," he said.
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, that
the basic argument is space and
not protec vion?"
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.
Sets Defense Plans.
Maj. Gen. William A. Schmidt
director of the Continental United
States Defense Plan, said the
Defense Department considers the
project solely from The point OF
view of defense and recommends
it. He said the Department Wis
ualizes it's majo- offices split be-
tween the Pentagon and the dis
persal area, with $1,000 workers
in the former and $4,000 in the
latter.
1--WE are concerned not only
with the Defense Department." he
went on. IF there is chaos in
Government presumably from
bomb destruction to civilian agen-
cies) our troubles increase"
The question was raised about
the wisdom of dispensing the oper-
ating personnel of various agen-
cies and leaving such leaders as
Gen. Marshall and other tor
echelon officials in the danger
area.
Col. Ramsay D. Potts, jr., of the
National Security Resources Board
testified that the top people have
to be here because they are on
call by Congress and other high
officials.
eff they are wiped out" Col
Potts said, some one else could
pick up and. with, the dispersed
agencies. carry on"
Mr.. Reynolds disclosed that
there are $4,000 Government en-
ployes now working in temporary
buildings, although when he tes-
titled before the House commit
too ~, Dooarabor tho y11Yy,ohn yx-a c