Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-06

for the Supreme Court of the United
States and for charging the site Of
the Government Printing Office, or
erecting q storage warehouse or ware
houses, the sum of $50 900 900, herein
after authorized for projects in the
District of Columbia, shall be used
exclusively for the purpose of ac-
curing by purchase, condemnation,
or otherwise, south of PENNSYLVANIA
avenue and west of Maryland avenue
projected in a straight line to Twining
Lake, such sites or additions to sites
as the Secretary of the Treasury may
deem necessary to provide such suit
able office accommodations in the Dis.
trict of Columbia as are hereinbefore
mentioned, Of constructing adequate
and suitable buildings for the furnish
ing of such office accommodations on
said sites or additions to sites, or on
sites already owned by the Govern
ment south Of Pennsylvania avenue
and west of Maryland avenue, as
above mentioned and of providing suit
able approaches to said buildings and
identifying and embellishing their
surroundings as nearly in harmony
with the plan of Peter Charles Len
rant as may be practicable. Said
buildings shall be so constructed as
to combine high standards of archi-
tectural beauty and practical utility.
Title Acquisition Necessary.
Congress having directed the Sec
rotary of the Treasury and the Public
Buildings Commission to construct
said Government buildings within the
boundaries stated in the above proviso
in said public building law, it becomes
necessary for the Government to &C.
quire title to all of the real estate
east of Fifteenth. street, south of
Pennsylvania avenue. west Of Third
street. and north of the north line of
the Mall. Also that certain real estate
located west of Third street, north of
Maryland avenue southwest. east of
Sixth street, and south of the Mall for
use in the construction of these Gov
eminent buildings.
1T is very desirable from the stand
point of economy that this territory be
taken over at once as taking it over
piecemeal and the erection thereon of
modern Government buildings, will
have a tendency to increase the value
of the real estate not used which
increase in value will have to be paid
by the Government later on. The
property is assessed for taxation at
this time in a sum slightly in excess
VI VI t,UUUiUUU.
Melons Testimony Cited.
Attention is called to the testimony
of Andrew w. Mellon, Secretary of
the Treasury, In the hearings before
the committee on public buildings and
grounds:
There is the question OF economy.
1t will be less costly to the Govern
ment to acquire the property covered
by this act now because it, in all prob
ability, will be essential in time.
These contemplated buildings are i'm
portant and monumental in character,
and the commencement of construc-
ton has already been authorized, so
the acquiring of this additional ground
is important to allow for the proper
grouping of the buildings in order
that they may be located with proper
relation to each other; making a de-
sirable composition, we may say, in
that district. Without this additional
land these buildings will have to be
crowded together, which would spoil
to a certain extent the benefit of the
expenditure of money in so far as
making an attractive city is con-
cerned-that portion of the city, at
least. If you have time to go into de-
tail, you will find some of these build
ings are large and some small. The
whole section of the city has to be
studied in order to locate them prop
erly, so that there will not be a build
ing perhaps 600 or 900 feet long along
side a small building. They have to
be grouped. On that account, and
aside from the question of cost being
prospectively less now than it will be
in the future, think it is really es-
sential now to have the whole of this
property
Would Remove Eyesores.
Another thing that is highly de-
sirable is the removal of all of the old
eyesores along the south side of
Pennsylvania Avenue which has
caused people of the country to won
der why the most important street in
the greatest Capital of the world
should be allowed to remain in the
condition it hassfor so long period"
During the last few days many
members have been impatient to know
when the Reed bill would come up for
action, and Representative Dan Reed,
Republican, of New York, a member of
the House committee on public build
ings and grounds, made statement
to the House yesterday notifying all
members to be on hand Monday, when
it will be considered under suspension
of the rules. He also explained the
purpose of this legislation, pointing