Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-08
HOUSE VOTES SOON
ON TRIANGLE BILL
May Come Up for Action
Wednesday; UnderhiII Wants
Purchase North of Avenue.

Both the Smoot -Underhill bill, for
Pennsylvania avenue to the Mall for
sites for new public buildings, and the
Reed bill, authorizing an additional
100000 for Federal buildings all
over the country, are to receive early
consideration by the House. possibly
next Wednesday.
Because the S25000,000 bill for &C
QUESTION of all of the privately owned
land In the triangle south of Penn
sylvana avenue was reported unan1-
mously from the House commit
tee on public buildings and grounds
yesterday exactly as it passed the
Senate. there is little doubt that
it will soon become law, since as soon
as it has passed the House, it will
Immediately go to the President for
his signature.
Representative Charles l.. Under
hill of Massachusetts, however, who
fathered this legislation in the House,
will make an effort when it comes up
for passage to have it amended so as
to include authorization for acquiring
two squares on the north side of
Pennsylvania avenue. required in con
nection with the Strengthening and eX-
tension of r street as the main APP
proach TO the Arlington Memorial
Bridge.
Wants Immediate Action.
1t is the intention of Congress to
authorize the acquisition of this ad-
ditional land, but as it is for another
project than the public building group.
the committee decided not to hinder
action OH the Mall triangle bill by in
Guiding these two other squares.
In the independent offices appro
priation bill, which is to be taken up
in the House Monday, a special APP
preparation of 100000 is made for
acquiring land on the line of B street
as an approach to the Memorial
Bridge or as an alternative PROPOSE
ton to be used in building auxiliary
bridges. SO this appropriation may be
available for acquiring the squares
north of the Avenue that are sought
under the Underhill amendment. Mr.,
Underhill made it plain today that he
has no thought of impeding the pas
sage of the Avenue Mall triangle bill,
but his amendment is offered solely
in the interests of economy, because
these squares must be acquired any
way, and if acquisition is not au-
thorized before Congress adjourns, the
result in a very great increase in cost
of this land eventually to the Govern
ment.
Elliott Files Report
Chairman Elliott in his report filed in
the House late yesterday pointed out
that the public buildings act. ap-
proved May % last, authorized the
public building program within the
District for construction of Govern
ment buildings to the amount of $780,
900, 900, such buildings to be erected
at an annual expenditure of 100000
900 per year He then quoted from the
act regarding the site in the triangle
south of Pennsylvania avenue, to be
used for these buildings.
Mr.. E,lliott'S report declares that
Congress having directed the Secre-
tary of the Treasury and the Public
Buildings Commission to construct
said Government buildings within the
boundaries stated. it becomes neces-
sary for the Government to acquire
title to all of the real estate east of
Fifteenth street south of Pennsylva-
MIA avenue. west of Third street and
north of the north line of the Mall:
also that certain real estate located
land avenue southwest, east of Sixth
street and south of the Mall for use in
the construction of these Government
buildings.
at 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 build
ings will have q 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
This property is assessed for taxation
at this time in a sum slightly in eX.
cess of SIT 900. 000.'
For EcOnOmy's Sake.
MIR. Elliott calls attention to the
testimony of Secretary Mellon in the
hearing before the committee on pub
lie buildings and grounds emphasiz-
ing the question of economy and stat
ing ''it will be less costly to the Gov
eminent to acquire the property COW
cred by this act now because it, in
ALI probability, will be essential in
time" Mr.. Mellon also discussed the
necessity for having the whole area
in mind for a proper grouping or the
buildings and said that ION that ac-
count and aside from the question OF
cost being prospectively less now than
II will be in the future, l think 1t Is
really essential now to have the whole
of this property.
MIR. Elliott's report emphasizes that
it is highly desirable also for the re-
,ooval of all the old eyesores along
Tho south side of Pennsylvania ave-
n1,e which have caused people or the
country to wonder why the most inn.
nortant street in the greatest Capital
If the world should be allowed to re-
main in the condition it has for so