Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-12
Foes Make Last
Effort to Block
Langley Project
BY GEORGE BEVERIDGE

agency moves from Washington
to the suburbs has been voiced
by Senators considering the
Central Intelligence Agency bid
for new headquarters at
Langley, Va.
Senator Chavez, Democrat Of
New Mexico. opened the matter
at a Senate Appropriations Com
mittee hearing yesterday on a
$40 million CHA request for
money to build the big Langley
center.
CHA Director Allen w. Dulles
urged the construction money,
and foes turned out in force for
their last-ditch effort to block
the Langley project.
The House is expected to act
today on the $40 million re-
quest. which already has been
cleared by its Appropriations
Committee.
Dulles questioned
Senator Chavez. chairman of
the powerful Senate Public
Works Committee, questioned
Mr.. Dulles sharply on why the
CHA insisted on moving from
Washington. and made plain he
didn't like it.
THE District of Columbia is
the seat of Government, and I'd
like to have the city of Washing-
ton continue to exist" he said.
The Senator added that he felt
there were adequate Federal
sites available within the city
and that he has asked the Cen
eral Services Administration to
provide a detailed list of them.
Later in the hearing, Francis
9. Addison, jr., speaking for the
District Bankers Association,
said continued Federal moves
could have disastrous effect"
on Washingtons economy.
/ He urged that Congress con-
Germ itself with this problem" to
the point of adopting a policy
that would require all new Fed.
eral buildings to locate in Wash.
ington unless Congress specifi-
cally passed on the necessity of
a suburban location in each case.
Formal Proposal Urged
Appropriations Committee
Chairman Hayden, Democrat of
Arizona, said he thought the
suggestion was a wise one. He
urged the bankers to take their
proposal before Senator Chavez
. Public Works Committee for
; consideration.
/ Mr.. Dulles said his agency had
, been able to find no satisfactory
site in Washington for its big new
building. He said the decision to
move was made at high level"
and that factors included dis
persal for security reasons, traffic
and parking problems.
Senator Chavez retorted that
the serious problem should be
the needs of each agency, not
the comfort of the fellows who
work there and where they park
their cars"
Senators also pinned Mr..
Dulles down on other points, but
most did not appear to be anita
Igonistic toward the Langley 10.
cation.
Senator Ellender, Democrat of
Louisiana, proposed that the
committee report specify that
none of the construction money
be spent until Fairfax County
commits itself to providing
necessary sewer, water and
other Improvements at no Fed
eral cost. CHA officials said this
was agreeable, since they already
have such commitments.
Would Impose Ceiling
Senator Stennis, Democrat OF
Mississippi. said he wanted it
plain that a start of conStruc-
ton would not commit the Con-
gresS to any more money than
the S54.5 million now authorized
to build the Langley center and
to extend the George Washing
ton Memorial parkway along the
Potomac River. Congress already
has granted S5.5 million which,
added to the $40 million request,
makes the $54.5 million total.
Mr.. Dulles said building cost
increases indicate CHA will need
an additional $40 million to
build the center to house all
GA employees. But the center
will be constructed so that. il
Congress decides not to provide
the extra money later, some en-
lployes will continue to be housed
in permanent buildings in WASH
ington, he said.
Mr.. Dulles also took a severe
Gliding from Senator Dworshak,
Republican of Idaho. for refusing
for security reasons" to say how
many CHA employees are involved.
The Senator said he wondered
if any foreign powers were so
stupid they couldn't compute the
number from the building size,
and that he was discouraged,
disappointed and disillusioned"
that the CHA has been permitted
to operate in such secrecy from
the public and Congress.
The Republican Senator said
he thought the only answer
might be Ito get a sensible adj