Evening star., 1926-12-10
SMOOT PROPOSES
2-yEAR S34,OOO,00O
BUILDING PROGRAM
Would Mean Saving Over
Five-Year Project, He
Tells Senate.
MEMBERS INTERESTED
IN TALK OF ECONOMY
Expenditure of Bulk of $50,000,-
900 Within Time Mentioned
to Be Asked of Congress.

: The Public Buildings Commission
may ask Congress- to spend $4,000
900 out of the total of. $50, 900 900
Government building program in
Washington within.tfre first two years
for reasons of economy. Senator
Smoot of Utah, chairman of the COM
mission, told his colleagues in
speech in the Senate this afternoon.
With attractive drawings hanging
from the wallis of the Senate cham
Der showing how the area between
the Capitol and the Treasury is to
be transformed by the building pro-
gram, Senator Smoot made a plea for
the early acquisition of the remaining
private land between Pennsylvania
avenue and b street. as contemplated
by the bill he introduced yesterday.
After enumerating the projects that
have been designated for early con-
struction under the $50,000,000 pro-
gram approved at the last session,
Senator Smoot said that these pre-
perred items aggregate S34, $50, 900.
Outlines Economy Plan.
"Of course, all of that amount can
not be spent within the current fiscal
year." Senator Smoot continued. but
it ought to be spent before the close
of the next fiscal year, and we may
ask to spend S34,O00.0O0 within the
first two years instead of at the rate
of $4,000 900 year for five years.
That has not been done yet, but 1t is
being considered, and if 1t is done l
am sure we can do the buildings more
economically
Even while Senator SmoOt was ad-
dressing the Senate on the Avenue tri-
angle purchase plan, the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion, in formal meeting, discussed the
whole project and gave it the stamp
of it's approval.
While Senator Smoot was delivering
his address, members of the Senate
displayed a keen interest in the plans
as he unfolded them and formed in
groups about the charts on the wall.
when this comprehensive building
program is completed, the Government
employees in the District will be housed
in buildings owned by the Govern
ment," Senator Smoot began.
Saving i'm Rentals.
'It will mean the discontinuance
of rental now paid by the Govern
ment to the amount of 81 100000 an
nually. 1t will do away with those
shacks that we now have-and they
will fall down or become very ex-
pensive to use in q few years. 1t
will relieve all of the hazards from
fire that now exist and provide ade-
quate space for keeping records Of
untold value to the Government. We
expect to take care of the records of
the early days of our Government
that now are kept in damp cellars
in such a condition that they fall
apart if you touch them
Senator SmoOt then listed the
archives, internal revenue, extension
of the Agricultural Department, De-
partment of Commerce, purchase of
Liberty Loan Building and enlarge
ment Of the Government Printing
Office as the items in the total pro
gram that have been singled out for
early execution.
Answering question by Senator
Smith of South Carolina, Senator
Smoot explained that his bill to COM
plete the purchase of the triangle
south Of Pennsylvania avenue calls
lOT an VI 9Z0,UUU,UUV III
addition to the $5O,000.000 for build
ings and land authorized at the last
session.
Calls Plan Essential.
He pointed out that the Government
already owns a considerable part of
the land within the triangle and de-
clared that, even if it were not possi-
BILE to fOresee the eventual need for
all of the triangle, it still would b,.
essential to acquire the entire area for
the reason that the proposed build
ings cannot be planned economically
and with proper highway and parking
space unless the whole triangle is con-
sidered as a unit and replanned.
Senator SmoOt further declared that
if all the land in the triangle is not
acquired now the squares that remain
after the first buildings are erected
will soar in value.
Although the problem Of locating
these buildings today is a difficult one.
1t is made easier by reason of the
park plan of 1901, and so also will the
building problems of the future be
made easier If we treat the triangle as
a whole now" he said.
Hopes for Great Avenue.
II want to live to see a great avenue
from the Capitol to the Washington
Monument, thence west to the Lincoln
Memorial and from there across the
new Memorial Bridge to Arlington. I
believe it would be the most beautiful
avenue in all the world. And this Is
the original plan for Washington.
Senator Smoot said that he be
lieved the Government could pur-
chase the property desired I'm the tr:-
angle for not more than the $25 ,000,-
600 asked to be authorized.
II really believe it can be pur-
chased for less" said Senator Smoot.
He said that he did not believe the
Government would be held up by ex-
cessive demands of property owners
and added that he did not think that
any court before which condemna-
ton proceedings might eventually
come would permit excess charges to
be made. He said that three cases
had come to his attention, however,
of privately owned property for which
the rentals have been considerably
increased since the discussion of the
purchase of the property.
Goes into Detail.
Using a series of maps, diagrams
and Illustrations hung about the walls
of the Senate chamber. Senator Smoot
described in detail the plan for the de-
x,aIonp1apf oI Ioncr