Evening star., 1952-01-27
Decentralization Aim
For Federal Workers
Is Already a Reality
A THE SUNDAY STAR
90 Washington, D. c.
SUNDAY, JANUARY r., 1852
By Froneis P. DouqIos

ment workers already has been
carried out so extensively that
only about 10 per cent Of Federal
employees in the United States are
In the District area.
Members of Congress OCCASION
ally express the feeling that it
would be advantageous for tax
payers throughout the country to
be able to see Government en-
ployes at work Such an oportu-
nifty already is pretty well realized.
California already has more
Government employees than the
District. as has been reported be-
fore. New York's total might also
exceed the Districts if Govern
ment activities with $4,000 en-
ployes were moved out of Wash
ington. with some, no doubt, 60
ing to New York. Government
employment in Washington al
ready is declining.
6 States Pass 100000.
Six States now have more than
100000 Federal employees. Eight
metropolitan areas outside WASH
ington have $4,000 or more.
The moving of $4,000 Govern
ment workers out of the Capital is
provided in the decentralization
bill which was passed by the Sem
ate last October and is now pend
ing before the Reorganization
subcommittee of the House Ex-
penditures Committee.
A majority of the members said
they have not given the measure
much thought and some said they
are not yet familiar with its pro-
visions. Committee members have
been busy with the plan for re-
organization of the Internal Reve-
nue. Bureau.
Subcommittee Chairman Holi-
field, Democrat, of California, said
he had not examined the measure
yet because of other committe
business.
Hoffman Doesn't Know.
Representative Hoffman, Re-
publican, of Michigan, ranking
minority member of the subcom-
mittee, said he does not yet know
enough about the bill to decide
whether it is worth while. He
said he is in favor of decentrali-
zation if it can be carried out
without interfering with Govern
ment services and at no undue
cost.
The people paying for the
Government and owning it," he
said, might like a chance to see
how it works" Then he reflected,
"but I don't know if they would
have more chance to see that if
1000 or 5000 more employees were
transferred to Detroit" /
The number of Government
employees already in Detroit is
1884.
This figure is for the first of
1850, the most recent date when
figures for Federal employment
by cities are available. At that
time Government employment in
the Washington area was 1928;
In New York it was 121,099.
Employment in other metro
politan areas was: San Francisco
Oakland, 70,907; Los Angeles,
1882; Chicago. 56.911; Phila-
delphia- Camden. 55,123; Norfolk
Portsmouth Newport News. Va,
37,627; Boston, 34,594; st. Louis.
26,S95.
Smaller Concentrations.
Some of the smaller concentra-
tions were: Baltimore, 22,201;
Dayton, 22,529; San Antonio. 49,
002; San Diago, 1922; Oklahoma
City, 16,O78; Seattle. 15,908; Cleve-
land, 1915; and Atlanta. 15,O09.
Last September 30. when there
were 249, $40 Government workers,
or 10 per cent of the United
States total, in the District area,
there were these State totals OF
more than 100000:
California, 252.249. or 10,1 per
cent; New York. 1872; Penn
sylvania, 1892; Texas, 116,468;
Illinois, log, ,861, and Ohio. 08,257.
The total for the United States
rs a whole was 2,0S0, 1893.
One example of how decen-
tralization already exists in Fed
eral agencies is the Indian Bu-
reau in the Interior Department
which has about $50 employees in
Washington. But in the field 1t
has about 10000 workers engaged
in education, health and other
activities for the Indians.