Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-01
IMPROVING THE CITY
EFFECT OF THE WORK OF THE
PARK COMMISSION.
Plans Nay Not Be Adopted by Con-
gress, but Their influence 10 Being
Felt In Legislation

"Wfll you kindly give me your opinion
whether the proposed Improvement OF the
park system Of the District OF Columbia
will be carried out and IL so. whenT'
This question has been put to Senator Gal
linger and other senators by Mr.. Howard
F. Johnson of this city. The impression pre-
walls In the Senate that copies of this letter
have been sent very generally to senator's.
1t Is not known how generally the replies
have been sent to this query, but senators
in discussing 1t have been very uncertain
as to what view they should take of It.
The plans of the park commission have
been laid before the Senate In an elaborate
form. but there has never been any effort
to have those plans formally adopted by
either house of Congress. As Is well known
the commissions expenses were paid from
the contingent fund of the Senate, the COM
mission being appointed by the late Senator
Mcmillan, al chairman of the Senate COM
mfttee on the District of Columbia. The
House never acted In respect to the ap-
pointment OF that commission. and for that
reason, II for no other, the House. and es-
pecially Speaker Cannon. did not take
kindly to the proposition.
The Commissions Plans Costly.
The commissions plans were criticised be-
cause of their elaborate nature and because
1t was alleged their realization would in
yolve an expense of $200,800 coo. The fact
was pointed out that the plans were not
presented with any suggestion as to the
amount of time or degree in which they
should be carried out, but merely In order
that they should be the basis of future inn
provements that are made in the District
of Columbia in order that such improve
ments might be projected in accordance
with a general plan that would result in
harmonious arrangements.
The fact Is, it is declared by prominent
senators to be quite as difficult to predict
what Congress will do in respect to these
plans as it would be to predict in respect
to any proposition for legislation that has
been pending before Congress for years. In
many respects the plans were in accord
ance with well-defned policies that have
been adhered to in matters of legislation
for years. In some respects the plans in
volved new features of improvements. The
park commission, however. ceased to exist
upon the submission of its plan, and now
1t has no official relation with Congress.
Buildings on the Avenue.
One of the important features that has
been included in the plans, which is old
policy of Congress, relates to the improve
ment of the south side of Pennsylvania ave-
nue. by the construction of government
buildings, and the acquisition of all that
section of the city lying between the av-
nue. and street as part of the park that
now forms the mall Congress has on sew
eral occasions shown its intention to carry
out that plan by the purchase of sites for
public buildings and their construction. 1t
Is believed the style of architecture for
buildings to be located there in the future
will be classical and of more uniform
height, which is likely to be guided by the
style and height of the new municipal
building under construction on the south
side of the avenue between 1877 and 14th
streets.
It is believed by senators and represen-
tatives who have looked into this matter
that the sentiment throughout the country
relating to he Improvement of this city
favors a generous policy in providing for
the needs Of the government and for the
development Of the capital on a scale that
will give ample warrant for the claim that
this country has the handsomest capital
city in the world. So far as the plans Of
the park commission assist in the realiza-
ton of that ambition they are likely to
receive favor, but Congress is as free as
ever in the adoption of any scheme for the
development of the District on broad lines.
For these reasons It has been difficult for
senators to reply to the letters they have
received except In general way. Because
of the difficulty in replying to these letters
many senators have referred them to Sena-
tor Gallinger, chairman of the District COM
mittee.