Evening star., 1926-11-18

be effected. Another Is the consolida-
| ton of all public works activities un-
der the Engineer Commissioner. SINH
larly, q department Of finance Is con-
| templated.
1t is a comprehensive program for
economy and efficiency along business
| lines for the District government that
Chairman Gibson Of the SubcOmmit
tee intends to lay before the Public
| Buildings Commission in an effort to
| get the land south of the present Dis
trict Building for the new municipal
| group.
ID. c. Agencies Must Vacate.
| Senator Smoot indicated plainly to-
| day that he is not in favor of putting
additional quarters for the city gov
ernment on the property in back of
| the present District Building, as has
been suggested in the past. This area
| directly in back of the District Build
| ing was definitely allotted yesterday
| to the General Supply Building, to ex-
tend from Fourteenth to Thirteenth
and from - street southward. not
quite to G. street. and the Department
| of Labor south of that to b street.
IL do not know what the commission
| would decide said Senator Smoot,
| "but my opinion would be that the
| District eventually should take the
square on the east"
The Senator said he was aware that
| several District agencies-the House
| of Detention. the Traffic Bureau and
| the first precinct police statiOn-will
have to vacate their present quarters
to make way for the new Federal
| structures.
| VIII Ask Authority.
"Of course" the Senator explained.
Eve cannot spend more than SIC, 0,000,-
900 in the fiscal year. but we will ask
| for the authorization"
| Another definite statement made by
the chairman Of the commission today
was that the Commerce, Archives and
| Internal Revenue buildings would be
| among the first undertaken. En-
| largement of the Department Of Agri-
culture Building also will be expedited.
| In addition to selecting definite sites
for eight of the new Government
buildings within the Pennsylva MIA
avenue-B street tria the commits
sion yesterday authorized beginning
of condemnation proceedings for the
square north of the Library of Con
gress, between East Capitl street and
Maryland avenue, for an appropriat te
|
| Supreme Court.
Under the public buildings act the
| United States Supreme Court Build
| ing and the addition to the Govern
ment Printing Office are the only two
| structures allowed to go outside the
Pennsylvania avenue triangle.
| On the site approved by the com
To Balance With Library.
mission yesterday the Supreme Court
| Building will have a location in keep
| ing with the dignity of the highest
| tribunal in the land. 1t will face the
east front of the Capitol and will bal
ance with the Library of Congress.
The triangle. west Of the Capitol.
| which was designated by the commits
, sion yesterday for complete develop.
ment as a public building center will
extend from Fifteenth to Third
streets. The remaining stretch from
that point to the Capitol Grounds is
occupied by the Botanic Gardens.
| The Senate at the last session pass
! ed the bill for the enlargement of
| the Botanic Gardens on the squares
Just south Of the existing gardens and
bounded by Maryland avenue, Canal
street First and Second streets. Fa-
! vorable action by the House on this
legisla ton may be had at the coming
session. When this project is carried
out the Grant and Meade Memorials.
, in the old Bota Gardens, will be
given more appropriate surroundings.
This program also will improve great.
! ly the whole vista looking westward
from the Capitol.
Entire Area Needed.
In view of the fact that the triangle
/ was needed for the public business,
Secretary Mellon pointed out. the only
businesslike way to go about the
! building program was to acquire the
| land Of the entire area.
ITO buy it piecemeal,' he said.
| would be an extravagant way for