Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-14
BY WILL p. KENNEDY

next session Of Congress. s
Because OF the pressing importance
OF passing q to0-iong- delayed pubic
buildings bill and other urgent iegis-
lation, the House Office Building Com
mission, consisting Sof Speaker Long.
worth: Representative Bacharach, Re
publican, of New Jersey: Representa-
tive Garrett, OF Tennessee, minority
leader, and David Lynn. architect sok
the Capitol. deferred action on Nhia
project until the short session In De
cember. The membership OF tina
House is ready to follow the ADVICE
of this commission. s's
y Preliminary studies have been made
pursuant to q provision In the legis.
lative appropriation act for 1875. ana
q report submitted by the architect
OF the Capitol after conferences with
the allied architects Of Washington.
The Commission OF Fine Arts has
also been consulted and heartily APP
proves the tentative plans, being par
ticularly insistent that the two
squares directly south Of the Cap.
itol grounds. lying east and west OF
south Capitol street and bounded by
B and c streets, New Jersey and
Delaware avenues. should be &C
Quired.
Other Schemes Suggested.
Alternate schemes are suggested
for the approval Of the House once
Building Commission to erect a
building to occupy the entire square
lust west across New Jersey avenue
from the present House ONCE Build
ing, now occupied by the Public
Health Building. the Coast and Geo.
detic Survey Buildings and Congress
Hall Hotel; the other, to erect the new
building on the north front OF the
two squares, leaving the. rear area
available for future expansion.
This latter proposal seems TO be
the more popular, and f1ts IN better
with the policy of the Commission Of
Fine Arts, the only disagreement
at present being that the Commits
sion of Fine Arts would Ike 70 nave
the new building put up on the rear
Tor SOUTHERN half OF these two lots.
while facing north. This would leave
a Wide parkway in front OF the
building facing the Capitol grounds.
The idea OF the Commission OK Fine
Arts is that such a setting would be
more in conformity with the develop
nent on the north side Of the Capitol
grounds with the improvement or
the recently acquired land lying to-
ward Union station In park erect.
In such a method Of treatment It
would be possible to widen B street.
both on the north side and south
side OF the Capitol grounds.
There are two objections Registered
against the setting OF the new House
Once building on the rear OF the two
iots---og,e is that members Of Con
Rress object to its being any farther
away from the Capitol than ID neces-
sary, and the other IL that there Is
il down grade toward the south
which would materially alter plans
and require a much higher building
to conform with others In the Capitol
group. ss,es,a.ss.g..
Agreed on Main Theme.
This is merely q matter Of unjust.
menf, however. and all interests are
in accord on the main features Of the
House Ofiice Building project In any
event 1t is agreed that the vista from
the Capitol down South Capitol street
to the Potomac River shall not BE OBJ.
structed, and that while the entire
front of B street will be utilized. there
viii be 4 terraced eject. AZ now
around the Capitol Building itself,
ner,nitting Of free use OF South Cap
itol street by pedestrians and an I'M
f Before any of the plans were pre-
pared there was q general agreement
as to the number of additional ofkices
required, the general character OF
these offices. the accessory elements
OF the building, and the essential re-
ouirement that IL should be SER
vicable, economical building, not
monumental" These requirements
have been recognized in plan, story
height. interior finish, ana fenestra-
ton, and an effort has been made 70
produce a simple, dignified building,
not out Of harmony with its sur
roundings These plans are the re-
alllt Of composite and cooperative
Of the CAPITAL City.
Accusation Of the site and erection
Of the building is calculated to cost
between $4,000, 900 and So, 600 600. The
building alone would cost approx
IY1ately $4,000 600. It would provide
90 suites OF Offices for Representa-
lives with 81, 000, 600 cubic reet OF
additi3naI storage space. It includes
q gymnasium, IS by 10 feet. which II
found to be an essential need Tor,
members who are tied so closely 20
duties on the floor and In their OF
Aces that they cannot take daily ex-
ercise in the open. There is also 20
be q, swimming pool. So by lao feet,.
with ample locker ana snoWeE
facilities. Quarters are also provided,
for q folding room. to take care 81
government publications which the,
members send to their constituents
4 clerks room, superiG tendent's OF,
nee and other necessary adminls-
trative Offices.
q Lounge VIII Be Provided. n
space is provided for a congress-
9eiDnal lounge. which will be OF very
rreat convenience 70 visitors from
an parts Of the country who come TO
call upon their representatives In
Congress Garage space for 100
automobiles Ii to be made In the SUBJ
basement.
The two-square site ig preferred be-
cause, while II il advantaEe ously l0-
Gated with references to the presert
orincipaliy for committee meetings.
ana with references To the Capitol, II
nrOyides space not only for present
needs. but for future expansion. while
al the same time giving a more haE-.
|n1onious and roundabout setting fer
the Capitol itself.
The House once Building Commits
sion ii especially imp essed with the
fact that real economy calls for MAX
.irr far sighted provision now for
future needs, and that the ex-5
penaiture Of an extra quarter Or
half million dollars on an eight Or
nine million dollar project 70 provide
8 sufIicient1y large site to meet al
-