Evening star., 1915-12-02
FEDERAL BUILDINGS
LACKING IN BEAUTY
Present-Day Tendency Held to
Mark Distinct Retrogression
From High Ideals.
PLANS FOR NEW INTERIOR
Department ARE CITED
Report of Committee of American In
stitute of Architects Adopted
by Convention.


by Convention.
The form of the adopted plans TOT
the new building of the Interior De-
partment marks a distinct retrosres-
sion from the policies of governmental
architecture as originally conceived py
Washington and Jefferson. which nave
played so vital part in the establish
ment of real American school Oh ar
chitecture.
This is the opinion of the committee
on government architecture OF the
American Institute of Architects, now
meeting in this city, submitted at this
mornings session by its chairman. Z. A
Coolidge of Boston. and adopted by the
convention. Committee reports almost
completely occupied this session
Mr. Coolidge's report discussed the
tendency of the people of the United
States generally to deplore the destruc-
tion through war of the noted monu-
ments of Europe, such as Rheims Ca
thedral. while, at the same time. those
governing this people are constantly
losing opportunities to create new
structures of architectural worth. Ihe
future destruction of some of those In
actual existence or definitely planned
for. he declared would be not a crime
but distinct gain to civilization.
Policy Termed Regrettable.
1T is indeed regrettable that the gov
ernment should absolutely fail to real
ize its wonderful power for the ad-
vancement of the fine art of archl-
lecture Government buildings as a
rule occupy a prominent place in the
civic centers of our cities. and if this
policy is persevered in 1t will be an
insuperable obstacle to artistic de-
velopment throughout the United
States"
Persons in official life point out mem
bers of this committee. are apt to
have the conviction that economy or
construction and practicability of gov
ernment building must be sacrificed at
the expense of architectural merit, but
such is not really the case.
As one expressed it, a building may
cost a certain sum and be thoroughly
undesirable architecturally, and it may
cost exactly the same amount of
money and be harmonious, beautiful
and just as well suited to the purpose.
The report discussed the opportuni-
ties of the committee for constructive
work in recent conferences with Post
Office Department officials and members
of the subcommittee of the House COM
mittee on public buildings and grounds.
with especial regard to the subjects of
Standardization of design, lump sum
appropriations for public buildings and
changes in the limit set for the item OF
the cost of site 1t expressed the hope
that the office of supervising architect
would soon be filled.
Auditors Are Thanked.
T. J. D. Fuller and Robert Stead of
Washington were given by unanimous
vote the thanks of the institute for their
services auditors Of its accounts. 1t
was decided to have chartered account
ants perform this work in the future.
The first vice president. Thomas R.
Kimball of Omaha. Neb.. occupied the
chair this morning and presided over a
brisk discussion to the policy of the
institute regards the practice already
embarked on by one chapter of advancing
its propaganda through paid newspaper
publicity.
proved too tough nut to crack anG
the matter was laid on the table
The fact that good architecture finds
its impulse in social and economic con
ditions and that 1t is only through ar
honest Interpretation of these that
vital esthetic expression can exist, re
ceived emphasis in the report of thu
committee on public information, F. L
Ackerman of New York, chairman.
I'VE have attempted to discuss
esthetic questions, to educate our peo-
pie through the use of forms called
beautiful-to import, in fact, a set oi
esthetic values from Europe" said the
report. which was adopted In the
meantime we find that our towns anC
cities are growing more ugly every
day. 1t is our educational system which
should be modified to include in it,
scope the establishment of the relation
between economic. social and politica
ideals and the consideration of thing!
from AN esthetic standpoint
Louisiana Chapter Praised.
f,ornmendation of q number of step
taken by public spirited citizen
throughout the United States to pre-
serve both the natural beauties and TIL
historic landmarks of the nation wa
Contained in the report of the commit
tee dealing with these matters, Horac
Wells Sellers of Philadelphia, chair
man. Special praise was given tn
Louisiana chapter of the institute 70
its work along these lines regardin
the old distinctive French quarter G
New Orleans and other landmarks c
that city.
1T is becoming more and more i'm
portant that the members of our pre-
fession keep in touch with the move
Inents of IRE prevention in all II
branches II they wish TO keep UP wit
the modern procession of efficiency
said Julius FRANKIE of New York, chair
man Of the committee on fire preyer
Iion, in his report He told how tn
committee had attended as delegate
the National Fire Prevention Associs
tion convention in New York last Ma
That the time is not propitious I.
the institute TO advance buildin
code and that It is better to let the ne
codes that have been put forth recen
i ly throughout the country be careful
b.. tried out by the respective commun
ties so that they be adequate
studied by the committee on bas
building code, was the opinion of Il
report OF that body. submitted by
-. Eizner of Cincinnati, Its chairma
Frank 6. Baldwin OF Fredericksbur
Va. delivered the report of the con
mittee institute publications. al
those Of +:le committee on legislatit
and of the committee on credentials
delegates were held over till futu
session.
Elections This Afternoon.
The election of officers and fellow
the nomination of honorary membe
and an informal report on trip TAX
to the Pacific coast by President Stu
gis, during which he visited many
the chapters. followed by an illu
trated talk on the San Francisco e
position. were features of the afte
noon session. which followed lunche
at the Shoreham.
Reports on town planning and on t
recent city planning conference,
xefher with addresses and discussioI