W.R.A. SHIFT CALLED EVASION

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17.--(AP)--California congressmen today were divided in their opinions regarding President Roosevelt's transfer of the War Relocation Authority to the jurisdiction of Interior Secretary Harold L. Ickes.

Some who like the secretary expressed hope he would wield a big stock and bring order into what they described as disorderliness in the camps.

But others said the transfer, announced yesterday by the White House, was an evasion of the issue and an effort to sugar coat a bitter pill.

Main point of controversy was retention of Dillon S. Myer to head the W.R.A. under Ickes. Twenty-one West Coast congressmen from Oregon, Washington and California had requested in the resolution sent to the President late last month that Myer be removed.

Secretary Ickes said today the program developed by the agency during the [past] two years "will be continued and I hope will be made more effective."

Myer also issued a statement saying the program of [administering] ten communities for Japanese in this country has had the indorsement of Congress.