Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-11
House Committee Hears Able
Arguments in Support of
the Dyer Bill.
PRESENT QUARTERS HELD
A REPROACH TO NATION
People of Capital Willing to Pay
Half of Proposed $1,75O,OOO
Cost.

In a series OF arguments of convincing
nature scarcely ever surpassed before the
House public buildings and grounds COM
mittee today, members of the National
Guard. army officers and congressman
urged upon the committee the immediate
necessity of a favorable report on the
Dyer bill authorizing the expenditure Of
S1.d5o.OOo for an adequate armory for
the National Guard of the District of
Columbia
Representative Dyer of Missouri au-
thor of the bill, and member Of the
1st d. c. volunteers in the Spanish
American war. made the opening argu-
ment and presented the other speakers,
who were Col William L. Harvey, I'd
Infantry. n G. D. c., and in charge of
the armory matter for the brigade: Col.
Parmerter adjutant general D. c. Mi
litia; Col. w. W. Harts L. S. A. officer
In charge of public buildings and grounds;
Representative Kahn of California. Gen.
Mills. chief of division OF militia affairs:
Representative Knowland of California,
Senator-elect Broussard of Louisiana,
and member OF the National Defense
League: Capt. James f. oyster, rep
resenting the Chamber of Commerce;
Arthur Cowsill. representing the Board Of
Trade. and Col Ourand, Let Infantry,
n. O. =. c.
Present to lend their influence were
Col r. D. Simms, National Guard of the
District OF Columbia. retired; Maj. G..
Guard of the District of Columbia: A.
Leftwich Sinclair Of the Chamber Of
Commerce, and other Washngtonians
Co,,a
The need for an arnory is 80 we'll
known by congressional committees that
only a portion of the hearing was given
over to this phase Of the question, but
when it was touched upon it was ham,
mered home hard into the minds Of the
committeeman. Col Harvey outlined the
history of the legislation on the subject
of an armory for the District and dis
played the plans and sketches authorized
by the latest act on the subject
The people of the District want this
armory and want II soon.' he said. land
there Is not the slightest objection to
amending the bill SO as to make the
District bear one-half the burden The
ganixation. with the President Of the
United States as its commandsr-in-chief,
and yet the United States allows 1t to
be quartered in lofts and sheds. Two
eral property Is stored In buildings
which could be utterly destroyed By an
evil disposed person with 5-oent box
Of matches"
Col Harvey met the claim Of the
Department of Agriculture, which states
the Dyer bill provides for site on the
Mall ground now occupied by $50, 900
worth of departmental, buildings and
greenhouses. by saying that the depart
ment has absolutely no right to the oc-
ftnv, r,f no hof Ia III
read a letter from the assistant secre-
tary of the department protesting against
the taking OF any part Of the land now
occupied by the department. Col. w. w.
Harts. oficer in charge Of public build
ings and grounds. took the same vfew
of the case held by Col. Harvey, saying
that the department is using much land
which is properly speaking part Of the
park system of the District Of Columbia.
Property Not Safe. -
Gen Mills, chief of the militia divi-
sion of the War Department. said the
government property intrusted to the
National Guard is not safe in the pres
ent scattered lofts and shacks.
Does the, property need attention
now?' he was asked.
rs 1t deteriorating?'
Yes. as you can readily see by the
inspection reports.
Representative Gudger of South Caro-
lima asked him why the property is not
insured. 80 -
THE United States does not insure it's
property" answered Gen. Mills.
In response to questions. Col. Harts told
the committee that while the armory
could be made of cheaper design and
placed in another part Of the city than
that contemplated-ie, between 18th and
14th streets on the north side Of the
Mall-the government would not be the
gamer. as 1t would have to buy the land
for site. The site is now in the name
Of the United States. Chairman Clark
suggested the Botanic Garden site as a
possibility, but Col Harts told him that
the plans are already made to leave the
Mall an open space from the Capitol to
the Lincoln Memorial.
Not Suitable for Armory.
Representative Kahn. who has taken
lively interest in the District Of CO.
lumbia in all things pertaining to its
beauty and welfare, made brief state
ment concerning the need for a new
armory. .
These lofts were never intended for
an armory. In the National Capital we
should have an armory that is really
an armory. In my state no such thing
| national guardsmen to drill in SO poor
| a place. where men are liable to con-
| tract pneumonia"
THE present arrangement is the
most unsuitable possible in the city,
| said Senator-elect Broussard of the
National Defense League. Col. Ourand
! Col Parmerter, who ts an officer of
\ the army assigned to duty with the
local brigade; Capt. Oyster and Mr..
| CowsiI supported the arguments ad-
Il oth