The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-02-22
The Washington Power-Plant Fight.

The story OF the effort to prevent the erection
of great central power-piant for the government
buildings at Washington, upon a site injurious to
the beauty of the design for the development OF
the river area, is story which recurs with pain
full monotony in all such matters. II is only after
the plans have been well advanced towards exeeu-
ton that the injury they threaten is sufficiently
realized to bring out powerful protest; and then
the protest is met by the cry Of too late" 1t is
easy to understand the feelings of the practical
men" in such a situation. Mr.. Fitzgerald is doubt
less truly Disguised at the idea of people coming
in at the eleventh hour to make trouble, and to
cause probably or less incidental expense,
upon which last point he is one of the compare
lively few members of either house of Congress
to have really serious feelings And probably near
| y all of the Representatives and Senators who
voted against the Newlands amendment to post
pone the undertaking until it could be reported
upon by the National Fine Arts Commission were
influenced by the feeling that the time to protest
was before the project had reached the stage Of
entering into contract.
But the fact is that il is upon this kind of
eleventh-hour resistance that we constantly have
to rely for protection in matters of this nature.
And, irritating as it may be to be asked to undo
or revise what had been supposed to be an &C
eomplished result that is reason for refusing to
do so. The people who protest are not asking
anything for themselves; their appeal is in behalf
of US all. 1t is directed to the saving Of what a,
present attracts notice, but in the future will
be priceless. Instead of being irritated because
the protcsters were slow in coming forward, we
ought to BE thankful that they have come for
ward at all. But in deciding the case they bring
forward, what we have to pass upon is neither
their personal merits, nor the praise or blame at
to the oDs tor shs M
to the merit of the objection itself and of the
OF action that is proposed by the directors
In the present instance. the objection has been
.xaI 30
ing practically the whole architectural protest.
OF the country, by other associations comprising
thousands of our most publc-spirited citizens and
by individuals whose names carry the greatest
possible weight in any question Of art or of civic
beauty. And what Senator Newlands proposed
was simply that the government be not irrevo-
| cably committed to the scheme until IT had been
examined and approved by the National Fine Arts
| Commission
To those who made strenuous effort to bring
about this stay Of proceedings-especlslly Mr.
Massachusetts,, and Cooper, Of Wisconsin, in the
| House-grateful recognition is due. The poi mt was
brought out that, although under an executive or
der made by President Wilson in 1913, final action
the government in the District of Columbia until
| the plans had been passed upon by the National
stance not submitted until after the contract had
been made. But the main stress OF Senator New
lands argument was put upon the seriousness o.
the matter at issue, and the duty Of Congress tc
correct error If 1t has made one. He made
most forcibe presentation OF the case from every
standpoint 1t should be clearly understood thai
what is involved is not merely the question OF tn,
view from the White House-from which the pro
posed site is at great distance. with othe
large buildings intcrposcd-but Of the river
front, which, with its parks and monuments, vii
in the future present superb and beautiful cHec
il unmarried. One of the reasons why the erro
was committed in the first place, and why it wa
not protested against, is doubtless to b.
found in the singular deficiency of our country il
"Throughout the United States as Senator New
lands said, "the waterfront is, as rule, the mos
neglected part OF every city, occupied by wretcheC
buildings, unsightly wharves. But if we 60 tt
Europe, we find quite the contrary; if VIC go t
Asia, find quite the contrary
1t will be uphill work now to bring about
change of site for the powcr-plant. The sppro
priation for the building is item in the urgen
deficiency bill, and will go tho President mere
as such; and the proviso for postponemcnt of tn
work has been voted down. But glad t.
observe that the Nevada Senator. in his speech
gave notice that he would not accept that DISPOSE
, ton OF the matter final His motion for sta
of operations had been originally offered in tn
shape of separate resolution, having no connec
ton with the deficiency bill; that resolution, h
declared, is still pending, and will be pressed wit
vigor in the future i'll case the action of the Scnat
= should be adverse this subject Here in Ne,
tYork, where VIC recall such experiences a
4 the fight to keep the court house out of Cit
Hall Park, the fight to protect Riverside Parl
and the long struggle for the rescue of the Pal
sades should be peculiarly apprcciative of thos
/ who hold the fort in such this OF tn
t Washington rivcr-front, and do all to hel
: them to win their fght-Ncw York Evening Pos
New Question with Germany.
4 The Washington government acts with wisdor
, and prudence in deferrng the Lustania settlement
until Germany has more definitely informed us c