Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-16
True Economy.

The Senate by large ma jority declares
that the time has come 20 provide system
atically for the public building needs OF
the government. Its passage of the Hey
burn bill is an act of wise business man
aeement. and ii will be we'll for the pubic
service IL the House. recognizing the real
economy of immediate action along this
line. puts the measure promptly on It's
passage so that the process of securing
the Mall-ayenue lands may begin without
further delay
When the city was plann no man could
foresee the vast expansion of the country.
the growth of IT'S industries. the multiply
ing of lis governmental activities and the
consequent need of enlarged administra-
tive facilities. No one then thought of n
Department Of Commerce and Labor. No
one conceived such esta enlistment as
geological survey. a Department or
Agriculture was far beyond the range OF
vision The concepts of a government :
requirements were simple and few.
treasury. office. a postal organiZa-
ton and a law office We're all that were
then deemed essential 10 the successful
working of great federal machine.
1t has now been no less than forty years
since the views OF progressive. prescient
statesmen regarding the government s
needs underwent a change. The civil war
settled not only the issue Of national
unity but also governmental participa-
ton in the more intimate life of the peo-
pie. The late sixties should have witnessed
radical revision of the capital ma king
plans TO adjust to this new idea of gov
eminent. Little was done by the govern
ment itself though the municipality OF
n lah TO
ward the end of creating a capital worthy
of the republic. Had Congress done its
share broadly and in season. the federal
city would today be adequate in all It's
equipment and opportunities for future
development along the lines of govern
menta! needs.
Now. after all these years have passed
the work of providing for the already eX-
banded and still rapidly expanding ac-
tivties of the federal establishment is be-
ing seriously considered in Congress. The
fact is recognized that il is undgniied and
uneconomical to continue to pay heavy rem
tails for inadequate quarters. Senal or
Scott the other day dwelt effectively upon
this point in his speech. The Senate. in
the face of the District Commissioners
estimates that the Mall-avenue land viii!
cost about $2O.UU0OO0. has passed the bill
which provides system for the taking
of this land. not bit by bit. slowly and at
great ultimate cost. single appropria-
tions are squeezed out of Congress, but on
q broad scale of present provision for all
the possible needs of the government in
the future.
The execution of this plan will not only
give the government adequate construc-
ton space-it will cure intolerable condi-
tons which shamefully and. until the gov
eminent acts thus, inevitably mar the
capitals great thoroughfare. With this
bill law and its provisions executed
Pennsylvania avenue will be the boast of
America. Without such enactment IL
will remain for years a source of humilia-
ton TO every dweller within the District
as he meets the inquiries of the tourist
regarding its lopsided ramshackie, coun-
try-village aspect over the greater portion
of the distance from the Capitol TO the
Treasury.
Whatever the details of the plan may
be- the vitality important requirement is
for law which establishes the principle
that henceforth government buildings
shall be placed within the ideally located
Mali-ayenue triangle. and that the space
shall be regarded as a whole and devel-
oped with due regard to the principles of
landscape architecture.