The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-03-04
NORRIS To ACT
NEXT SESSION,
5. HE ANNOUNCES
Will Study Falls Project Dur
ing Recess Mellon Letter
Urging Plant in Pigeon Hole
HALF MILLION NOW SPENT
Work Sidetracked After Being
Started Early in War-va-
rious Reasons Given in Delay

ItUuS 0CQSVttS 0tVOtI ~ SSt0y
Charges recently made by Byron
r. Newton, former Assistant Sec
rotary of the Treasury, that big
electric interests, with the aid of
influential politicians, succeeded
in defeating the Governments
plan several years ago of operat-
ing central heating, lighting and
power plant, will be probed at the
next session of Congress, it was
stated yesterday.
$1,494,1 O4 APPROPRIATED.
Copies of Mr.. Newton's charges
are in the hands Of number Of
members of Congress. many Of
whom asserted surprise at the plain
statements of alleged political cor
ruption made by Mr.. Newton. The
allegations first appeared in a re-
cent issue of Golfers Weekly and
were reprinted, in part. in The
Washington Herald.
One of those interested in the
charges is United States Senator
George w. Norris, of Nebraska,
who has been an advocate of haI-
Messing the Potomac River falls.
He read the original story of Mr..
Newton's and sent copies of it to
several of his colleagues.
An appropriation Of 81, 494 ,1O4 to
establish a central power plant to
supply heat and electricity for Gov
eminent buildings was made by
amount was later increased to
s1,737, 1o4. The bin called for a
power plant on Water street, be-
tween Thirteenth and Fourteenth
streets southwest, and conduits and
tunnels to the Treasury ana other
buildings, including the Bureau Of
Engraving and Printing nearby.
WORK SUDDENLY HALTS.
Excavation for the powerhouse
was begun March 1, 1916. Engineers
later declared piles could not be
driven according to the specified
tons. The work was then haitel.
James A Wetmore. supervising
architect Of the Treasury, was or
dered to draw up other plans. On
June 90, 1917. Cornell & Co. con-
tractors, were asked to submit
amended proposal based on the re-
vised drawings.
on June 6, 1918, after part of the
power plant had been constructed
and the tunnels and conduits and
cables laid, the work was stopped
on the ground that the project
could be delayed without detriment
to the public service, thereby releas-
ing men and materials for the
urgent war needs of the Govern
ment"
The Fine Arts Commission also
came along and opposed the power
house site and urged Congress to
abandon it.
a w. Mellon, Secretary of the
Treasury. on July 10, 1921, sent a
letter to Frederick H. Gilletr,
Speaker of the House, suggesting
that some action be taken to re-
vive the work Of construction on
the power-plant project. and that If
the present site selected by z for
mer Congress was not available,
another be found in the vicinity of
the Bureau of Engraving and Print
ing.
LETTER PIGEON-HOLED.
Mr.. MELONS letter was referred
to the District Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds, of which
Representative Langley is chair
man. The bill has been pigeon.
holed there since. Chief Clerk Fian.
merry said yesterday that the reason
no action was taken on Mr.. Mel
Ions suggestion was because the
committee had decided not to urge
any additional appropriations dur.
ing the present Congress.
Secretary Mellon wrote Speaker
1~A& 49,
for Congress to consider in reviving
the powerhouse project. First, the
erection on a suitable site near the
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
of a power-house of sufficient size
and equipment to serve with neat,
light and power the following build
ings only: Liberty Loan Building.
Bureau of Engraving and Printing,
Auditors Building, Municipal Build
ing. Post Office Department Build
ing, National Museum, Agricultural
Department, Freer Building. Smith
sonian Building, Treasury Building,
and to serve the following buildings
with electricity only, for power and
light: State, War and Navy, White
House. Civil Service. Winder. John
son-Walker, Red Cross, Pan-Amer-
lean, Interior Department, Army
Medical Museum, Fish Commission,
Washington Monument.
Mr.. Melons second proposal is
that should the first not be &C.
ceptable to Congress, the'$887, 800. OF
left of the original appropriation
for the central heating. lighting and
power plant. be utilized for the
construction Of a much.needed pow.
er plant for the Bureau of Engrav-
ing and Printing and the auditors
building. He also said that should
Congress in the future find n way
20 develop a hydro-eIectric plan Of
the Potomac river, the present un.
derground tunnels and ducts could
| be used at any time, as they will
bot deteriorate.