Evening star., 1951-03-07
House Group Frowns
On Apartments Use
For Defense Offices
By Crosby S. Noyes

Members of a House Armed
Services subcommittee remained
unconvinced today of the need for
the Federal Government to take
over three new apartment houses
in Washington after a third day
of hearings on space requirements
of defense agencies.
After today's hearing Subcom-
mittee Chairman Clemente of New
York asked representatives of the
Army. Navy and Air Force to
submit more Recommendation sup
porting their claim of additional
space.
When 1t comes to taking over
two of the best apartments in
town. it's a bitter pill for the
public to swallow" Mr.. Clemente
declared. Before this subcom-
mittee makes any recommenda-
ton on the matter we must make
sure that all other alternatives
have been thoroughly explored"
Personnel Increase Noted.
The apartment houses to which
he referred are the Boston and
State Houses, on Massachusetts
avenue. earmarked by the Cen
eral Services Administration for
use as Offices by Defense Depart
ment agencies. The committee
also is looking into a proposed
lease of the Gelmarc Towers
Apartments. 1880 Columbia road
NV. for the Civil Defense Ad-
ministration.
Service representatives told the
committee today of an increase
OF more than 1900 Defense De-
partment personnel. started after
the Korean war broke out, which
will be completed by June 80
This increase has created a criti-
cal shortage of Office space in
existing Government buildings,
the witnesses said.
The hearings were adjourned
until Friday to give the services
time to submit more documentary
proof of their space needs.
Caldwell Wants to Stay Here.
| Federal Civil Defense Admins
traitor Millard F. Caldwell warned
yesterday his agency could not
function effectively if it were
moved out of the Washington
area.
The defense chief was sum-
moned before a meeting of the
House Armed Services Committee
exploring the possibilities of NOV
ing the Civil Defense Administra-
ton headquarters TO some more
nearly central point in the ccun-
try. Chicago was mentioned as
a favored location.
Mr.. Caldwell argued that a
headquarters in the Washington
area is necessary to maintain close
contact with military departments
the Atomic Energy Commission
and other Federal agencies with
which the defense administration
must work.
Vinson Raises Question.
He said he favored a location
in one of the Governments dis
persal areas within a radius of &c
miles of the District. Such a To-
cation, he said. would be as secure
against attack as the area around
any other city in the country.
Committee Chairman Vinson
has questioned the advisability of
setting up Civil Defense head
quarters in the Gelmarc Towers
apartment house, 1880 Columbia
road NV, and taking over the
former Longwood School near
Olney, Md, as staff college.
Mr.. Caldwell agreed that a
headquarters outside the city
would be preferable to the apart
ment, but insisted that the grow
ing agency is in urgent need of
more space. The training school
he said. would be opened some
time in April "if we have to start
it in the street" The present
plan, he said, is to house the
school CDA headquarters in the
Cafritz Building until the Olney
site is available.