Evening star. [volume], February 14, 1952, Image 1

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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Weather Forecast
Chance of light snow or rain today, high
near 35; cloudy tonight, low of 25. Snow
likely by tomorrow night. (Full report on
Page A-2.)
Midnight, 36 6 am 31 11 am 33
2 am. ...34 8 am. 31 Noon-34
4 am._34 10 am._32 1 pm._34
Late New York Markets, Page A-27. - A . -- .
Tl ' ~*' .. An Associated Press Newspaper
100th Year. No. 45. Phone ST. 5000 ** 3 WASHINGTON, D. C., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1952-EIGHTY PAGES. 5 CENTS
Truman Asks
Subpoena Power
To Aid Morris
Congress Gets Request
For Law to Stiffen
Corruption Inquiry
By Joseph A. Fox
President Truman today asked
Congress for legislation to give
subpoena powers to Newbold
Morris, newly named head of the
Justice Department’s corruption
in-Govemment inquiry, and asked
that the measure be speeded.
Pointing out that the legisla
tion is required to enable Mr.
Morris to gfet witnesses and docu
ments from outside the Govern
ment which would hot' othewise
be available for the probe, Mr.
Truman stressed that “such ligis
lation is necessary to enable Mr.
Morris to make a thorough and
effective investigation of illegal
or improper conduct in the trans
action of Government business.”
- Along with the message, the
President sent Congress a draft
of a joint resolution which would
provide the needed implementa
tion of the corruption prober’s op
erations.
Divulged at News Conference.
The message went to Capitol
Hill a short time after the Presi
dent told his news conference that
he was going to ask Congress for
this legislation to complement his
own instructions to all Govern
ment agencies to give top priority
to any requests for co-operation
from Mr. Morris.
Explaining in the message that
the Morris investigation would
cover “illegal or unethical con
duct” by Federal workers and
others relating to the performance
of official Government duties, Mr
Truman said also that the new
assistant to the Attorney Gen
eral “will also make recommenda
tions as to action that should be
taken to punish any wrongdoers
to protect the Federal Govern
ment in the future against illegal
or improper acts and to insure the
highest standards of honesty aud
integrity in the conduct of official
Government business.”
medges Co-operation.
The President explained that
while all Government agencies
have been told to co-operate with
the inquiry, much testimony and
evidence must come from persons
and organizations outside of the
Government. A new lgw is nec
essary, he said, to permit sub
poenas to be issued to make these
sources available to the inquiry.
Where a subpoena summons
was ignored, the Justice Depart
ment could bring the offender
into court.
All testimony would be under
oath. The President said he
wanted the authority only until
next December 31.
To Strengthen Powers.
The President said Attorney
General McGrath is completely
in sympathy with his plans and
that the idea is to enable Mr.
Morris “to do an independent,
thorough and efficient job.”
The Morris offices, the Presi
dent’s statement disclosed, are go
ing to be outside of the Justice
Department.
At the time Mr. Truman was
considering setting up a special
corruption-probing committee un
der Federal Judge Thomas F.
Murphy of New York, it was
brought out that the unit actu
ally would be impotent unless It
had the power of subpqena. The
President’s statement emphasizes
that it is this defect that he is
now proposing to cure.
He voiced hope in his statement
that Congress would back up his
plan.
President’s Statement.
The statement follows:
“I have had a good conference
with Mr. Newbold Morris about
his plans for carrying out his job
as special assistant to the At
torney General.
"I am directing all departments
and agencies of the Government
to co-operate fully with Mr. Mor
ris in the performance of his
duties, and to give him any in
formation and assistance he may
require, and give the highest
priority to any request made by
him. Adequate funds will be pro
vided for the activities of Mr.
Morris and his staff, and they will
be given separate office space out
aide the Department of Justice.
"I intend to see to it that Mr.
Morris has access to all informa
tion he needs that is in the pos
session of the executive branch,
and the authority to examine and
require testimony from all office
and employes of the executive
branch. However, in many cases
where Government employes have
been subject to outside influence,
the most essential evidence is not
in Government hands. Mr. Mor
ris cannot conduct a thorough and
effective investigation of cases
such as these unless he has the
power to subpoena witnesses and
documents from outside the Gov
ernment. The executive branch
cannot confer such power on Mr.
(See CORRUPTION, Page A-3.)
Star Want Ad Total
Leads Others Combined
During January The Star carried
30,877 individual classified ads. The
three other Washington newspapers
combined carried a total of 78,505 dur
ing the same period.
People in the Washington area prefer
The Star's classified section because of
its result-getting power. Phone Sterling
5000 to advertise in Washington's No. 1
classified medium. Cull now to place
Sunday ads. Don't wait until the dead
line at 2 pun. Saturday.
V
1/ j
British Throngs Will File Past
King's Bier Throughout Night
Body Will Lie in State Until 6 A.M.
Before Funeral Tomorrow at Windsor
By the Associated Press
LONDON, Feb. 14.—Sorrowing
Britons continued to pay their
respects in such numbers at th<
bier of King George VI in West
minister Hall today that palace
officials decide not to swing shut
the great doors until 6 o’clock
tomorrow morning.
This is only ZV2 hours before the
ceremonial cortege starts for
Paddington Station en route tc
the state funeral at Windsor
Castle. Originally, it had been
planned to close the doors at 10
tonight.
Before that hour, it was re
ported without confirmation that
the Duke of Windsor has asked tc
be allowed to stand a watch at the
candle-lighted bier, as he and his
three brothers did 16 years ago
for their father. King Georve V.
The Duke, who ^arrived from
New York only yesterday, was
said to have besought his niece,
Queen Elizabeth n, for the royal
permission to stand beside the
body of the brother to whom he
relinquished the throne for love.
Dr. Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop
of Canterbury, bowed for a few
minutes today in front of the
purple-draped catafalque.
Later the nation’s leading
Catholic prelate, Bernard Cardinal
Griffin, visited the bier.
Thousands of Britons filed past
today 10 abreast. Some dropped
daffodils or snowdrops beside the
catafalque.
Gen. and Mrs. Eisenhower flew
in from Paris to join seven heads
of state and other notables for
the funeral tomorrow.
Palace officials put their seal to
the final order of the funeral
march. The young Queen, her
mother, Queen Elizabeth, and her
sister, Princess Margaret, and the
King’s sister, the Princess Royal,
will ride in a carriage close be
hind the body.
Then on foot and abreast will
follow the four royal dukes: Wind
sor, who was once Edward VUI;
Gloucester, the King’s other liv
ing brother; Edinburgh, the
Queen’s husband, and young 16
(See KING, Page A-3.)
Top Treasury Officials
Attempted fo Head Off I
Tax Probe, King Says I
New York Jury Action
Termed 'Planned Move'
Against House Inquiry
By Cecil Holland
Star Staff Correspondent
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb, 14
Chairman King of the House
tax investigating subcommittee
charged here today that top
Treasury officials initiated a Fed
eral grand jury inquiry into tax
scandals in the New York area
“solely for the purpose of stifling '
the investigation of this com-,
mittee.’'
i
Mr. King issued the statement
here in the latest development in
a long-range tussle with the
Treasury and Justice Departments
over the investigation of New York
tax scandals that promise to be
sensational and politically ex
plosive. The subcommittee is now :
investigating West Coast tax ;
irregularities here.
“As soon as the subcommittee
left Washington for California,”
said Mr. King, “certain top Treas
ury officials moyed to interfere .
with our investigation in New,
York. This was obviously a :
planned move, for these officials
were all aware for weeks of the '
hearings we had planned in San
Francisco.”
Kean Assails Action.
Representative Kean, Republi
can, of New Jersey, a subcommit
tee member, isued a separate and
even stronger statement charging i
“high Treasury officials” with at
tempting to prevent "further dis
closures of misconduct by former ]
high officials of the Bureau of In- 1
ternal Revenue from reaching the ■
public” until after the November j
elections. ,
"These conspirators, meeting in i
private,” Mr. Kean said, “at- <
tempted to devise means of hiding :
evidence through the secrery of
grand jury procedings.” i
Mr. Kean said the subcommit- 1
tee’s staff, with the assistance of <
revenue agents, has developed'
“evidence of serious evils” in the i
New York area, and added:
Will Fight “Conspiracy.”
"I personally will spare no effort <
to see that this conspiracy to hide 1
misconduct from the American 1
people shall not succeed.” 1
Neither Chairman King nor Mr.1
Kean mentioned any names in
their statements.
But it was obvious from what!
they said and what the subcom
mittee members have expressed .
privately here that they were:
directing their Are at Secretary
Df the Treasury Snyder. Their ,
statements were issued soon after j
the subcommittee received a re- ,
port that Mr. Snyder had said in ,
Washington that the Treasury and
the scandal-hit Revenue Bureau ]
had never agreed to withhold the j
grand jury inquiry until the House
group had completed its own,
investigation.
Mr. King insisted there had been
such an agreement and said the
Treasury demanded the grand:
jury inquiry without “the slightest.
consultation” with the subcom
mittee. i
Snyder Statement Disputed.
“I am told,” Mr. King added,
“the Department of Justice felt
compelled to accede to the de
mands of these persons.”
Mr. King also disputed Secre
tary Snyder’s statement that the .
revenue agents assigned to the
investigation were neither lent nor ;
assigned to the House subcommit
tee. v
“The Treasury agents who as
sisted in this investigation worked
(See REVENUE, Page A-2«.)
Late News
Bulletin
Rail Union Shop Backed
A presidential emergency
board today recommended that
the railroads of the Nation give
a onion shop and checkoff
system to more than a million
Employes in 17 non-operating
railway labor organisations.
(Karlior'Btory on Pago A-2.)
i -
Texas Tax Collector x
designs Under Fire;
Horth Dakotan Ousted
Bureau Official Quits
'In Interest of Service';
Minot Aide Arrested
A veteran Texas internal rev
enue collector has resigned under
pressure and a North Dakota dep
uty collector has been ousted,
rnd arrested as shakeups in the
ax-collection system reached new
Heights.
Amid indications of new scan
ials in the revenue agency, Presi.
Picture on Pago A-5.
lent Truman yesterday announced
;he resignation of Frank Scofield,
:ollector for South Texas, and
Revenue Commissioner John B.
Dunlap said the resignation was
requested “for the best interest of
the revenue service.”
8hortly afterward, Theodore J.
Baumann, deputy collector at
Uinot, N. Dak., was relieved for
illeged irregularities.
North Dakotan Arrested.
Naumann was arrested on
iharges of converting collections
rom taxpayers to his own use.
The complaint against him. Signed
it Fargo by a special revenue
igent, charges that Naumann ac
septed checks drawn in favor of
Himself by taxpayers in settling
supposed Government claims.
Mr. Scofield, 66-year-old veteran
nrho was appointed by President
Roosevelt in 1933, became the
seventh of the Nation’s 64 tax
:ollectors to leave office in less
shan a year.
During the year, 166 bureau em
sloyes have been fired or forced
» resign, 60 for alleged dishonesty.
Three former collectors have been
ndicted on fraud or bribery
sharges, and Boston’s former col
ector, Dennis Delaney, has been
lonvicted and sentenced to two
rears in jail.
While President Truman an
tounced Mr. Scofield’s resignation
rom the $ll,000-a-year post with
tut comment, Mr. Dunlap said the
Texan’s office at Austin had been
mder investigation.
"Best interest of Service.”
“Our preliminary investigation
if the administration of his office
ndicated that it would be for the
lest Interest of the revenue service
hat he submit his resignation,”
he commissioner declared.
Mr. Dunlap refused to go into
letails of the probe, but said “our
nvestigation is continuing.” He
tdded:
“There will be no further state
nent until this investigation is
ompleted.”
Mr. Scofield’s resignation was
Hired from a hospital room at
lustln where he is a patient. He
efused to see an Associated Press
eporter yesterday.
However, his wife said Mr. Dun
ap’s statement that the resigna
ion was requested was untrue.
“It was not requested. It was
riven voluntarily,” she told re
mrters.
Sailers Influenza Attack.
Mr. Scofield was stricken with
nfiuenza early in January, while
*n route to Washington for a tax
collectors’ conference. He was
confined to a Washington hotel
For a week and suffered a relapse
early this month, it was reported
it Austin.
The resignation announced by
he White House will be effective
February 29.
Meanwhile, the President’s pro
posal to reorganize the Internal
revenue system ran into trouble
yesterday as the Senate Expend
itures Committee held another
cession to consider the plan.
Main provision of the plan would
ibolish the 64 politically appointed
collectors’ jobs and substitute 25
district commissioners and 64 dep
uty district commissioners—all of
nrhom would be under civil service.
Approved by House.
The plan automatically will go
Into effect a month from today
unless the Senate specifically re
jects it The House already has
approved the proposal.
The chief stumbling block was
raised yesterday by Senator Mc
Clellan, Democrat, of Arkansas,
oho said he was not satisfied with
testimony presented so far. He
said the proposal would put top
revalue officials “behind the iron
curtain of civil service.”
President Finds
Confusion About
Plans Ridiculous
Will Tell Reporters
Of Campaign Decision
When He Is Ready
President Truman today hinted
that he felt the furore over his
possible candidacy for re-election
was becoming ridiculous.
He told a news conference that
he would announce his plans when
Conflicting Reports on Truman's Political
Plans Listed Chronologically. Page A-4
he was ready, but emphasized once
more that toe time had not come
yet for him to speak.
Repeating that he felt that
particular subject had been ex
hausted, he asked reporters to
turn to some subject in which toe
public is Interested.
He said that he was not trying
to spread confusion about his in
tentions and that whenever he
was rfeady with an announcement
it would be made directly to re
porters and not to some third
person.
Asked About Quotation.
This obviously was a direct slap
at statements made by recent
White House visitors, who have
added to toe confusion over toe
President’s plans with conflicting
statements.
The political colloquy was
touched off when toe President
was asked if he was correctly quoted
by Benjamin Q. Browdy, New
York Zionist leader and indus
trialist, who told reporters yester
day that he had just been advised
by Mr. Truman that he would
make a statement of his intentions
within toe next 10 or 15 days.
Mr. Truman, in a departure
from custom, permitted this direct
response, and a later amplifica
tion:
“Well, you know, everybody is
entitled to have his say when he
comes out of the President’s offce,
but I want to tell you fellows that
whenever I get ready to make an
announcement I will make it to
you, it won’t be through a third
person.
Tried to Answer Questions.
“I want to say to you that I
know you are very much inter
ested in this situation. I am in
terested, too, but we don’t want
to make this thing ridiculous. I
have carefully and conscientiously
tried to answer an your questions.
I always try to do that. But it
seems to me that it is about time
now for you to wait until I get
ready to make toe necessary an
nouncement and then you wfll
have all toe information.
“I don’t want to confuse you.
I have told you that it is a diffi
cult decision for me to make and
that as soon as it is time for
toe announcement to be made,
you wfll have toe Information
promptly. So let’s go to some
other subject that toe country is
interested in and discuss that,
because I have said all to you that
I’m going to say on this subject
and I am being kindly to you and
“It is not in any spirit of not
wanting to co-operate with you.
But I am not ready to make the
announcement. And when I get
ready, you shall have it.”
Sabath Statement Cited.
The second part of the Presi
dent’s quoted remarks followed a
question as to whether he would
run if he thought peace would be
helped and he said, too, that he
would answer that question when
the time comes.
Representative Sabath, Demo
crat, of Illinois, told reporters
Tuesday that the President had
evinced a willingness to seek re
election if he thought it would
speed the peace.
Mr. Truman said a long time
ago that he has made up his m<nH
about his political future and that
he would announce it when he was
ready.
The President also declined to
say if he had encouraged W.
Stuart Symington, retiring head
of the RFC, to run for the Senate
in Missouri against Senator Kem,
Republican.
Mr. Symington talked over the
Senate race with the President
earlier this week, but was non
commital on the conversation
other than to say he felt more
like making the race than he had
previously.
The President said he would
answer the Symington question
when the tiihe comes.
He also refused to discuss ad
ministration attacks by Senator
Taft, Republican, of Ohio saying
that the Ohioan is not even a
candidate for the presidency yet,
(See POLITICS, Page A-4.)
Freighter Reported Afire
Off West Coast of Cuba
•y Itw Associated Praia
MIAMI. Fla., Feb. 14.—The
Coast Guard said today a freight
er was on fire off the west coast
of Cuba and that the crew was
abandoning ship.
I Coast Guard air-sea rescue
headquarters reported an SOS was
picked up by the Richmond radio
station identifying the ship as the
S. S. George Duketon.
Her position was given as about
68 miles west of Havana, Cuba,
and 7 miles off shore: i
The Coast Guard sud the
ireigber’s call letters indicated she
was of Swedish registry. The
number of men aboard was not
given*
A Coast Guard plane from Mi
ami and a cutter from Key West
Reds' New Proposal
For POW Exchange
Yields Some Points
But Negotiators Cling
To Their Demand for
Forced Repatriation
By the Associated Press
MUNSAN, Korea, Feb. 14. —
Communist truce negotiators pre
sented a new prisoner exchange
plan today incorporating some
Allied ideas but clinging to thefr
own demand for forced repatria
tion.
The Allies repeatedly have said
they won’t turn a single prisoner
More Pictures Take* in Communist Prison
Comps by Frank Noel. Page A-5
Two High Officials From Washington See
Ridgway and Joy. Pane A-5
back to the Beds against his win.
The Communists have another
new plan. It was drafted for the
final clause of a Korean armistice.
It will be unveiled Saturday be
fore a full-dress session of truce
negotiators.
Originally the Communists sug
gested a three-point recommen
dation for a high-level post-ar
mistice conference: (1) withdrawal
of all foreign troops from Korea;
(2) settlement of the Korean peace,
and (3) settlement of other Asian
problems related to the Korean
question.
Balks on Third Issue.
■ine u. n. agreed in principle
to the first two, but balked at
discussing problems other than
those directly connected with the
Korean war.
The Reds offered to submit a
new proposal. Today they said
it was ready. The Saturday meet
ing was set when Allied spokes
men said the U.N. delegation
would be unable to meet earlier.
Col. George Hickman said he
had not had time to read care
fully the nine-point Red prisoner
exchange plan, but on several
points the Communists had “come
to our own point of view.”
While holding out against vol
untary repatriation the Commu
nists did agree to let Red Cross
teams operate in prisoner of war
camps after an armistice is signed.
Truce Supervision Stalled.
Staff officers discussing truce
supervision made little progress.
Col. Don Darrow said an agree
ment was reached on the five
islands below Parallel 38 off West
ern Korea the Allies will hold
—-—
(See TRUCK, Page A-5.)
5 Fired at Ellis Island
For Gouging Aliens
•y *h# AnocicrtH Prm
NEW YORK, Feb. 14. — Five
Ellis Island guards have been dis
missed, one has resigned and 26
others face possible reprimand,
suspension or dismissal on
charges of gouging aliens for spe
cial privileges.
Immigration Service District
Director Edward J. Shaughnessy
announced the cases yesterday.
The guards are charged with
demanding fees for letting island
inmates go off limits to use tele
phones; permitting gambling in
recreation rooms; taking aliens
to expensive restaurants and let
ting the internees pay for all food
and drinks.
<«»
Two 'Quakes Recorded
NEW YORK, Feb. 14 (ffV
Fordham University today reported
that two earthquakes, probably
occuring in the Dutch East Indies,
were recorded on its seismograph
last night. The Rev. Joseph
Lynch, university seismologist,
said the lint was registered at
8:57.44 and the second at 10:01
AutoLicenseChange
Eliminating Engine
Numbers Delayed
A move whl&i would eliminate
the use of automobile engine
numbers in obtaining registration
certificates and licenses in the
District was postponed today.
The Commissioners approved a
request by the Recorder of Deeds
asking an extension of time until
statute changes are made.
Chattel deeds of trust go
through the recorder when auto
mobiles are bought on time pay
ments and he maintains an index
according to the engine numbers.
He asked a two-months’ delay.
- ’ - -
Mickey Cohen Reported
In Federal Penitentiary
•y rt» Anaclatod Prw»
LOS ANGELES. Feb. 14.—
Mickey Cohen, deposed mobster
who used to brag how he evaded
the peniteirtiary. was believed to
be behind the walls of McNeil Is
land Federal Penitentiary in
Washington State today.
The little gambler, under sen
tence of five years for income tax
evasion, has spent seven months
and four days in jail here, none
of which applies on his peniten
tiary sentence.
He has appealed the conviction
and sentence but yesterday gave
notiee he wanted to get on with
business of paying his debt to so
ciety.
McNeil Island prison authorities
refused to say if Cohen had been
received there, but local sources
said he had been sent there by
plane yesterday.
Burglars Take Gold Coins
From lawyer's Home
Thieves last night broke into
the home of Attorney Renah P.
Camalier and took $445. most of ,
which was gold coins from an es
tate Mr. Camalier was handling, j
Mr. -Camalier and his family ,
returned to their home at 4240
Nebraska avenue N.W., early today
after a trip to New Orleans. The
attorney, a past potentate of,
Almas Temple and a leading!
Shriner, said the theft must have
taken place iast night because
a friend checked the premises yes
terday afternoon.
The thieves took 75 silvef'dol
lars, $320 in gold coins. $50 in
quarters and half-dollars and two
pins belonging to Mrs. Camalier.
Mr. Camalier said the intruders
“apparently knew what they
wanted,”-since other Jewelry, furs
and silver woe untouched.
Women Net Good as Men
On Juries, Lawyer Says
Sy <iw Associated Press
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 14.—Wom
en have many fine qualities. At
torney Prank P. Doherty admits,
but he says they don’t have men’s
breadth of experience and there
fore aren't as good jurors.
Mr. Doherty told the Lawyers’
Club he felt the jury system is
weakened by overloading juries
with women. He said women are
inclined to be strongly for or
against a person.
“A jury must be balanced,” be
said, “and you do not get a bal
anced jury when it has 8 or 10
women.”i
Commissioners Study
D. C. Pension System
With Eye on Abuses
City Heads Concerned
By Many Retirements
For Physical Disability
By Jock Jonos
The Commissioners will study
the District’s police and fire pen
sion system with a view to tight
ening the regulations, it was in
dicated today.
Commissioner F. Joseph Dono
hue said that “consideration will
be given the entire problem” in
the light of a recently published
series of stories in Use Star dis
cussing operation of the system
here.
He gave no indication of what
course the study would take, but
It Is known that the Commission
ers have been concerned about
the Case with which physical dis
ability retirements are obtained,
the study also is expected to in
clude teacher pensions.
Ada Counsel’s Opinion.
The Commissioners yesterday
ssked Corporation Counsel Vernon
E. West for an opinion on a pro
posal to increase police and lire
pensions each time men on the
regular force get a raise.
After this opinion is received,
the Commissioners will ask Dis
trict Auditor A. R. Pilkerton and
Budget Director Walter Fowler to
prepare W report on the entire
financial setup of the pension sys
*m. , ,
a proposal ior a iu per qem in
crease in'police and lire pensions
-after police and firemen on the
'egular force had received such
m increase—was turned down
earlier because of lack of funds.
Under Health Department.
Under the present District re
jrganization plan, the Board of
Police and Fire Surgeons, which
examines applicants for physical
Usability retirements, would be
placed under supervision of the
Health Department.
Such a move, Mr. Donohue has
said, would divorce it from close
wsociation either with the Fire
Department or the Police Depart
nent. Theoretically, the board is
responsible directly to the Com
nissioners, but in practice its ac
sivities have been supervised
cither by the Police or Fire De
partment.
Dr. John A. Reed, chairman of
the surgeons’ board, opposes the
sransfer on the grounds that
iuties of the board have no con
nection with public health.
• Partial DisabiUty Bare.
Although the current regula
tions charge the Police and Fire
nen’s Retiring and Relief Board
vith studying the extent to which
in appUcant for physical dis
ibllity retirement is disabled from
Forking at other jobs, partial dis
ibility retirements are rare.
Most are retired on full dis
ibility with the tax-free disability
jension of one-half pay. Current
:ost of the pension program is
13.4 million annually, with an
Jther 3300,000 expected to be
sought for the next fiscal year.
Of those on the'pension rolls
n the Police Department, 568 are
>n physical disability retirement,
ind only 111 on regular retlre
nent. _
Truman Hails Patriotic Words
Of Man Who Lost.Son in Korea
A Negro father’s comment about
Us son who was killed in Korea
was described by President Tru
man today as one of the most
patriotic and outstanding expres
sions of sentiment he ever had
heard in his long years in politics.
The President told reporters at
his news conference that he hoped
they would read the article which
eras printed in The Star yesterday.
The fattier was Van Charlton
af the Bronx, whoso son, Sergt.
Cornelius H. Charlton, received
the xseriai of Honor posthumously
for the bravery that caused his
death.
Talking to reporters about his
mi’s gallantry. Mr. Charlton said
that his boy’s death makes a
‘liar” out of Singer Paul Robeson
and others who have said that
*the Negro will not light far our
sountry.” Robeson matte that
itatement at a Communist “peace”
rally in 1949.
Mr. Truman was so impressed
rith Mr. Charlton’s statement
that he brought The 8tar clipping
to today’s news conference to refer
to it.
*
*
■ » . /
Budget Bureau
Assails Shifting
Of U.S. Agencies
Fears Serious Loss
Of Efficiency in
Decentralization
By Francis P. Douglas
The administration told Con
gress today that a mandatory pro
gram of decentralizing Govern
ment agencies would result in a
serious loss of efficiency.
The statement was made in a
letter from Budget Bureau Di
rector Frederick J. Lawton to
Chairman Holifleld of a House
Expenditures Subcommittee.
The subcommittee today held a
hearing on a pending bill to move
Government activities with 50,000
jobs to other cities. The measure
at the same time would permit
provision for 15,000 additional
jobs here, resulting in a net re
moval of 35,000 jobs from the
Capital area.
May uner Action.
The subconunittee hearing,
which began this morning, was to
be resumed this afternoon, after
which, it was believed, the group
would decide to defer action on
the decentralization bill.
Mr. Lawton’s letter was read
into the record by Roger W.
Jones, assistant director of the
Budget Bureau.
The text of Mr. Lawton’s letter
follows:
“In response to your request for
the views of the Bureau of the
Budget with respect to S 2251 (the
decentralization bill) now pending
before your committee, I am au
thorized to advise you that its
enactment at this time would not
be in accord with the program of
the President for the following
reasons:
"First, over the past year and a
half, this office has co-operated
with other Federal agencies in an
intensive study of possible al
ternatives for alleviating the crit
ical office space situation at the
seat of Government and for so
locating agencies of the Govern
ment as to insure maximum se
curity without undue loss of ef
ficiency in Government opera
tions.
Loss of Efficiency Seen.
"The results of this study Con
vince us that the possibilities of
permanent and effective decen
tralization of activities at a con
siderable distance from Washing
ton were at first overestimated
and that no mandatory decen
tralization program would accom
plish its purposes without serious
loss of efficiency. Government
programs are not static and inter
relationships between change fre
quently and often rapidly with re
sulting needs for reorganization
and relocation.
“Second, the General Services
Administration has found it in
creasingly difficult to obtain large
blocks of satisfactory office space
in other metropolitan centers
around the country. For this rea
son, little effective decentralization
could be undertaken unless the
Federal Government embarked
upon an extensive building pro
gram or unless the Congress should
enact authority which would per
mit the acquisition of existing
buildings through long-time lease
or purchase, or the construction
of buildings under lease-purchase
agreements. It is also doubtful
whether the transfer to other
communities of large numbers of
employes, together with their
families, could be effectively car
ried out until adequate housing
could be made available.
Area Move Supported.
“Third, and* most important,
dispersal of key agencies within a
reasonable distance of Washington
would provide better security than
decentralization to other congest
ed metropolitan areas. Such dis
persal would, in the event of at
tack on the United States, also
insure much better continuity of
operations which must be closely
co-ordinated for the successful
prosecution of a war effort.
“Under any conditions short of
total war, we believe that the
Federal employment situation in
the metropolitan area has been
largely stabilized and that fore
seeable fluctuations will create no
highly critical office space situa
tion. This does not mean, however,
that the very dangerous situation
of over concentration in the down
town area has been alleviated or
that even under normal conditions
the hazard of continued occupa
tion of World War n temporary
buildings should be permitted.
“To meet this situation, the
President, in his 1953 budget mes
sage, has strongly recommended
the immediate enactment of a
modified dispersal program which
would at least make it possible to
(See DISPERSAL, Page A-4.)
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1
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