Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-03
Problems of Planning for
The Greater Washington

be divided. roughly. into two schools
of thought. The one believes that
plans should be drawn, studied and
approved, step by step, by as many
real experts as can be obtained. The
other believes that the Government
should appropriate the necessary
funds, specify generally what II
wants. then turn the whole thing
over to some outstanding architect,
selected either because Of his proveI
ability or through restricted competi
ton. and let him proceed unhampered
by. and without the further advice Of,
any official or organization Of the
Government.
Right now responsibility for the
Government program Of building in
Washington rests upon the Secretary
If the Treasury. Assisting the Score.
tary are the Public Buildings Com.
mission, the Commission of Fine Arts,
the National Capital Park and Plan.
ming Commission and the Board Of
Architectural Consultants, the latter
body made up of number Of promi,
nent architects in different cities Of
the country. The law enables the Sec.
rotary Of the Treasury to procuree by
contract, IL he believes 1t neces.
sary. the floor plans and de-
signs of the buildings to be con.
structed; the working plans and speci.
fcations to be prepared In the Office
OF tho Supervising Architect of the
Treasury--an office. by the way, that
has no supervising architect. So far,
designs and floor plans of only ono
building to be erected within the
triangle have been made. This Is the
design originally intended for the
building which was to house the De.
partment Of Commerce and Labor. the
contract for which was awarded some
years ago. through competition. to
the firm Of York & Sawyer Of New
York. Designs for the remaining
buildings of the triangle area will b
obtained either through contract OF
from the Office of the supervising
architect. There Is to be no compett
ton, and the power of award lies
wholly In the hands Of the Secretary
of the Treasury.
Secretary Mellon already has called
in the Board of Architectural Con
sultants to conduct preliminary
studies Of all proposed buildings In
the triangle, with the view to having
complete plan ready for the openins
Of Congress. The plan now prepared
for study, modification Of the
Louvre group Of Paris, has been ap
proved in principle by the Public
Buildings Commission, the Commits
sion OF Fine Arts and the Nations,
Capital Park and Planning Commits
nett Of Chicago, chairman Of the
Architectural Board Of ConsultantS
has been retained by the Secretary Of
the Treasury to act in an advisory
capacity and to assist in the CO
ordination OF the different plans a.
they are made. In passing upon the
plans. all these agencies must be pre-
pared to take into consideration the
views and preferences of the different
cabinet members whose departments
are to be housed in the triangle
buildings.
Now, there Is no doubt about the
fact that this procedure will guar
antee thorough scrutiny Of all plans
by all hands. Laymen as well az ex,
pert Is represented. II there ara
differences Of opinion, they must b
ironed out in conference and smooth.
ed away before the plans finally are
approved. Such a thing II possible,
1t is boast Of the Commission OF
Fine Arts, for instance, that its de,
cisions always are unanimous. This
does not mean that there are never
any differences Of opinion, but by
taking suggestion here and makine
one there the proposition confronting
the members is made acceptable ia
all OF them. The same thing may b
expected Of plans for the triangle,
There are many fingers I'm the Die
and many fingers that want 70 get In
and do a BIT Of stirring. But this
does not, and should not, preclude
the probability Of eventual accord.