Evening star., 1924-02-21
C0OLDGEEF|RM
FOR new BUILDINGS
Langley, After Conference at
White House, Says Action
| to Come Soon.
DOUBTS CONGRESS- STAND
Representative Believes Plans Must
Be Included in General Con-
structiOn Measure.

Following a conference with Presi-
dent Coolidge today, Representative
John w. Langley of Kentucky,
chairman of the House committee on
public buildings and grounds said
he will call. meeting of his COM
mittee within the next day or so to
agree definitely upon what manner
Of public buildings legislation to
bring before Congress this session.
Representative Langley indicated
that he did not give President Cool
tdgc positive assurance that there
would be separate bills for the sew
eral new department buildings pro-
posed for erection in the mall in
Washington. Whether or not these
buildings will be provided for by
individual legislation or in the gen.
eral public buildings bill. which
Chairman Langley personally favors,
will be determined when the commit
tee next meets.
Representative Langley was accom-
panied to the White House by Rep
reSentatiye Frank Clark of Florida,
democrat on Mr.. Langley's commit
tee. He admitted after seeing the
President that after going over the
public buildings question with him
he found him to be still fnsistent
that there be some provision made
by this Congress for the erection Of
buildings in Washington to relieve
The crowded conditions of the State
Department, the Department of
Justice, the Agricultural Depart
ment and the bureau of internal
revenue. The President was repre-
sented also as being strongly in ia
Sor of an archives building.
- While Representative Langley ad-
mits that there is great need for
these new government buildings, he
doubts whether members of Congress
generally would agree to separate
legislation. for them. He is of the
opinion that the sentiment of Con-
sress is strongly in favor Of large
general public building bill to take
care of the needs of the federal gov
ernment throughout the entire United
States and that these buildings pro-
posed for Washington should be in
eluded in il. Representative Langley
said, however. that he would be guild
ed entirely in this matter by the
sentiment of his committee when it
next meets.
During his conference with the
President, Representative Langley.
a member of the Arlington memorial
bridge commission, Of which the
President, is the head. informed him
that he has completed d survey re-
specting the land that will be neces-
sary TO acquire as a part of the ap-
proaches to the proposed bridge. The
details Of this survey will be sub
mitted to the commission when il
next meets. Mr.. Langley said the
President informed him that he will
probably next week, when the plans
for the design Of the bridge itself
and for the approaches will be APP
proved.
VIII Stay ut Desk.
Although tomorrow will be pub
lie holiday and the regular. office
force will be on a vacation. Presilen mt
for several hours.
There will be no cabinet meeting
tomorrow and the President will take
this opportunity to dispose of con-
attention to a number of important
appointments to be made. including
that of successor to Secretary OF
the Navy DENLY.
/: Gov. Towner of Porto Rico con-
serred with President Coolidge today
.or the first time since the latter
has been in Office, and. according TO
she former. he discussed in some de-
ail the conditions in that insular
Possession. Gov. Towner said aft
able to report to his chief that the
island is prosperous, that the citizens
are contented and that there is every
indication OF bright and successful
future. He also took up with the
President some of the Legislation
that has been proposed for Porto
Rico, emphasizing especially the i'm
portance of legislation extending to
the island various welfare laws, such
as the maternity law. He said he
heartily approved the PROPOSAL to
D lend the organic act of the island,
&hich would permit the citizens to
elect the governor.