Evening star., 1952-01-30
Officials Recall Loss
OF Agency Efficiency
In Decentralization
By Francis P. Douslos

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By Francis P. Douglos
Arguments that there can be q
transfer of Government
from Washington with
out loss of efficiency do not jibe
with the experience of some off,
cialS.
In some quarters, decentraliza-
ton is not new. There were
agencies, or parts of agencies, with
about 10000 employees moved to
other cities during World War II
The testimony of some officials
connected with those transferred
organizations, has been that ii
was more difficult to operate away
from Washington for a variety
Of reasons.
In contrast to that wartime
Observation-Disclosures, In most
cases, was understood in advance
to be temporary-the removal OF
Federal activities planned now
would be permanent. The decen-
bill passed by the Sen
ate and now before the House
would remove activities with 50,-
900 employees to other cities. II
would permit the creation of moi
more than $4,000 new jobs here
Hardship on REA.
One of the agencies transferred
in 1912 was the Rural Electrifica-
tion Administration. which went
to st. Louis. Administrator
Claude R. Wickard has said 1t
was almost impossible to keep the
staff there informed of what was
being done in Washington affect
ing the agency. iis
He said the organization must
deal here with Congress, the
Budget Bureau, various erner-
gency agencies that control ma
terials needed by the power and
telephone co-operativeS. to which
the REA lends money, with the
Treasury In connection with those
loans. and with the General Ac-
Office.
He pointed out that REA has
substantially decentralized
some of its operations.
Patent Office Shifted.
Another agency affected by the
1912 move was the Patent Office
More than half of its staff was
transferred to Richmond. Critics
of that move have pointed to the
number of patent applications
that accumulated without action
taken on them as demonstrating
the difficulties of carrying on the
work then.
One of the drawbacks to work
ing elsewhere, cited by patent
examiners, was the inability te
consult libraries of the various
departments here in connection
with their duties.
The Securities and Exchange
Commission was another of the
that went through war.
time transfer. Richard B. Nc
1ntyre. an SEC commissioner. has
said operations are more efficient
here, and described the constant
flow of work between the SEC ano
other agencies.
One Government pointed out
that the stats of the SEC and the
Federal Trade Commission work
closely together.
iva An Exception.
Discussions of decentralization
usually get around to the Ten
nessee, Valley Authority as an ex-
ample of an agency that works
well away from Washington. Pri.
marily, however, its work is ir
the Tennessee Valley. It main.
tains q small liaison Office in the
Woodward Building in Washing
ton.
If directors or other iva off,
cials are required to be in Wash.
ington for congressional appear
ances or other reasons, they car
leave Knoxville early in the morn.
ing and. travelling by IVA plane
arrive here by 10 am, finish theil
business and be back in Knoxville
for dinner.
Ofhcials of agencies moved tt
cities farther than Knoxville
would find q congressional sum
mons more difficult TO compl,
with. And any wide ownership
of planes by Government agencie:
would have to pass hurdles Of {
Congress already restricting th'
use of Government-owned auto
mobiles.