Evening star., 1952-01-25
Security Planners
Call Dispersal Best
Method for Defense
Proposal Held Preferable
To Relocating Agencies
Throughout Country

Inc governments top security
planners favor Government dis
Ipersal over decentralization as the
best method of national defense.
National Security Resources
Board officials said today legisla-
ton providing for dispersal OF
some Federal bureaus here to
nearby areas in Maryland and
Virginia is preferable to the SEN
|ate-approved bill that would de-
|centralize $4,000 Government
workers and their offices to other
cities throughout the country.
President Truman, in his budget
message to Congress. called fol
Congress to approve dispersal leg.
Iislation, declaring:
''I am convinced that any pro.
gram which fails to place primary
emphasis on dispersal to nearby
areas would not be in the interest
of security, efficient administra-
ton or good area planning"
Issue Set for Hearing.
AS a result, top administration
planners will ask Congress to side
track the Senate-approved decen-
tralization bill in favor Of dis
|persal legislation presented to
Congress about a year ago.
Meanwhile, House Executive
Expenditures subcommittee has
set February IA and is as the
dates for hearings on the Senate
approved decentralization bill.
Although the measure deals with
decentralization, it's expected the
whole issue of dispersal versus de-
Capitalization will be dealt with
in the testimony before the sub
committee.
Representative Holifield, Demo-
crat, of California, chairman of
the subcommittee. invited all in
terested persons and groups to
notify his group of their desire
to testify. Administration officials
will also be on hand to give the
subcommittee their views.
Advantages Seen.
NSRB planners declare that dis
perSal properly carried out, as in
the Administrators plan. would
have great advantages over de-
centralization.
NSRB officials say such dis
persal program would keep key
units out Of direct enemy range
in case the city Of Washington
was bombed and, at the same time.
would permit the most efficient
operation of Government.
Widely scattered units through
out the country would impair es-
sential operation of military and
security functions and would be
costly as well, it pointed out.
NSRB officials say a limited de-
centralization might be desirable,
but only as an accessory of a
major dispersal program.
10000 Under Program.
The administration recommend
ed to Congress last year a dis
persal plan calling for the trans
fer of agencies with 10000 en-
ployes to nearby Maryland and
Virginia sites. Also, the program
called for demolition of the fiimsy
temporary structures of both
world wars.
In an effort to speed up action
on this plan. President Truman,
in his budget message the other
day, said the plan would be
changed to call for the construc-
tion of Federal Offices on Govern
land in Maryland
and Virginia. The original pro-
posal was that the Government
purchase privately owned land.
The change was made for econ
omy reasons and also to meet the
objections of the Senators from
and Virginia that tax
revenue would be lost to the
States II the Federal Government |
purchased private property for the |
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