Evening star., 1926-12-15


che development of Washington and
erection of Government buildings"
said Senator Couzens, 'but / am op-
posed to holding land for years and
years when every one knows that
the Government can get il whenever
st needs ii"
Senator Norris recalled that "a
years ago, as a member of the House
committee, he helped to pass a bill
to purchase property here on which
TO construct National Archives
Building. He said that this land was
not used for 20 years after it was
bought, and then not for an Archives
Building.
1--WE lost the taxes on this land
for 20 years. said Senator Norris.
II would like to put off the purchase
Of this land until we pay some of
our debts"
House support Promised.
Promise of hearty support to the
Tnderhill bill, identical with the Smoot
bill was given today by minority Of
members of the House committee on
public buildings and grounds.
Secretary Mellon was the principal
witness at the hearing before the com.
mittee today, accompanied by other
officials of the Treasury Department
and Public Buildings Commission who
explained the entire building program.
It was indicated that the bill will
proba bly, be amended to include the
Southern Railway property between
Thirteenth and Thirteen.and.one.half
streets, just east of the District
Building, and also to include several
squares on the north and south sides
Of the Mall between the Capitol and
Sixth street. On one Of these sites In
the angle between Second street, Mary.
land avenue and b street, it is pro-
posed TO relocate the Botanic Gardens
Prefers to Make Inclusion.
Secretary Mellon, in reply to ques.
5ions, said it was very desirable that
authority be given to acquire the ad-
tiitional sites. Representative Charles
T.. Underhill, Republican. of Massa.
shusetts, who is sponsoring this legis
1ation, said he would prefer to have ii
included in the bill.
In the layout of new public build
1ngs. which Secretary Mellon and f
a. Bennett, the advising landscape
subject to change, 1t is shown that
fhe proposed Archives Building, for
the present, would not extend north
Uf ID street through Pennsylvania
avenue. but that the space now occu
pied by the Virginia Rail
way Company at Twelfth street anC
Pennsylvania avenue would be helC
for future expansion.
The location of the Archives Build
ing on the area between Twelfth ant
Thirteenth streets. c to d streets, wa
explained also by Mr.. Bennett as F;
peculiar type and style of architectur,
for the archives which could be mad,
TO harmonic with that of the existin;
Post Office Building on the other sid
of Twelfth street.
Buildings Are Twins.
II also was shown that the build
ing for independent offices to b.
erected south OF the archives build
ing facing on b street Is to be
twin structure with the propose
Labor Depa rtment Building at -Four
teenth and B streets, with a parKwa
between TO give q particularly attrat
five setting opposite the proposed Ma
fional Art Gallery. which Is to be
$4,000, 600 gift to the Government.
1t is contemplated also, Mr.. Bennei
explained. that a street car line wi
run through this area on Twelft
street and that underground aut
parking space will be provided betwee
Thirteenth and Fourteenth street,
back of the District Building
with subway outlets to the Ellipse, an
thus relieve traffic congestion In th
Pennsylvania avenue frontage.
The layout as pictorially shown
the committee today provides for
building between Tenth and Elevent
streets, Pennsylvania avenue and
street, for the Coast Guard. The pre-
ent Center Market site and the squai
between Sixth and Seventh streets
held for future expansion.
Would Force improvements.
Mr.. Underhill offered the suggestic
that the District government shou
assess property on the north side
Pennsylvania avenue at such ra
that the owners could not afford
hold 1t undeveloped, which wou
force the building up of the north si'
Of Pennsylvania avenD". AZ. Cnds
hill, III opening tie hens.sst, 'fr~ > ~
that the chief reason tCt aC.-l =, ..v
in acquiring tias entire triangle "a