Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-01
REVENUE HOME
TO Be BUILT FIRST
Work on Commerce Struc-
ture to Follow, House
Subcommittee Told.

The next new construction in the
great public buildings program Will
get under way this Summer on the
Internal Revenue Bureau Building
between the Post Office Department
and the Mall. according to officials OF
the supervising architects ONCE of
the Treasury.
This was disclosed in hearings be-
fore the subcommittee Of the House
committee on appropriations. made
public last night. revealing the prog.
ress on District projects.
The work will entail excavation
and founda ton construction for half
the revenue building, 1t was ex-
planned by Supervising Architect
James A. Wetmore and Louis A.
Simon, superintendent of the archi-
tectural division.
President plans. they explained. call
for building half of the building. to
accommodate clerks in the old tenn
porary building on the site to be &C.
merce between Fourteenth and FIJI
teenth and running northward from
r street. -
Commerce Building First.
The presence of this temporary
structure will not. however. hold up
the first construction on the NAM
moth Department Of Commerce
Building, which, they said. could be
started from the Pennsylvania ave-
nue. end.
The huge Department of Commerce
building was explained as standing In
the most important position at the end
of the triangle of structures, Ind as a
part of the large group of monumental
buildings must necessarily be design
ed as an edifice of pronounced monu-
mental character" with corresponding
increase in cost. 1t will be a seven.
story building and have accommoda-
tons for $500 employees.
Although this structure is to have
architectural refinements on its ex-
terror, 1t Is to be built inside for bust
ness purposes only, according to testi-
mony developed from a line of ques-
tioning by Representative Byrns OF
Tennessee and Chairman Wood.
Assuring members of the committee
that there would be rooms for confer
ences for the department. but no
suites or anything of that Sort" Mr..
Wetmore said
question. That comes down to us from
the original plans for the Department
of State building.
There Is nothing OF that kind con-
templated here?" asked Mr.. Byrns.
Fancy Auditoriums Opposed.
mo, SIR" replied the supervising
architect. This building, so far as
the interior Is concerned. Ia for utility
The exterior must have special archi
tectural treatment. IL they do for
Washington what the legislation ap
parently means to do-that is, to make
a start toward making Washington
beautiful intellectually. There will
be a large space in this building that
will be used for meeting purposes
as 1t is, absolutely necessary for the
Department Of Commerce to have
space for conferences. because that Is
| a part Of it's work"
II suspect that Ia So" said Chair
man Wood, but there should be nc
fancy auditoriums. staterooms or
rooms for state dinners
NO. sir" rejoined the supervising
architect. York & Sawyer. architects
We're to do preliminary sketches and
designing on the Commerce Building
1t was explained to the committee.
Plans on the Department of Agricul
ture central administrative wing tc
connect the two white marble wings
were proceeding under outside archi
tects. who should have their work un
der way, so that I'VE can make con
tracts to an extent that will call for
an expenditure of $500. 900 between
now and June 80, 1925" 1t was ex
planned.
Drawings and specifications for the
extensible building on the square
across b street southwest from the
49, 1T 1..tH -
department will be ready by the latter
part Of the Summer. Mr.. Simon told
the committee.
Plan Printing Office Addition.
Plans are under way in the super
vising architects Office for an addition
to the Government Printing ONCE, and
work will be started "as soon as the
plans are completed" Mr.. Wetmore
did not know exactly when that
would be.
1.-The computers who made up the
figures" he said, estimated that we
would need $3.50. 900 for that building
between now and June 80. 1928. That
will he for the fiscal year 1928. 1t is
probable that we will let the contract
in time for that"
Some of the site has already been
purchased. he said, but the rest Is to
be condemned.
The Liberty Loan Building. ada.
cent to the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing. 1t was explained, will have
its two additional stories finished with
stucco face. like the rest OF the build.
ing. instead Of stone. which had been
contemplated. Mr.. Wetmore said.
The form Of the Internal Revenue
Building also has been changed con.
siderably, it was disclosed.
THE building as originally in.
tended" said a statement submitted
to the record, was to be Of a COM
mercial type, but since the plan has
been developed by which the entire
triangle is to be acquired and a monu-
mental group of buildings con.
structed, the Internal Revenue Build.
ing is required to be designed also as
of q monumental character. at a cor.
responding increase Of cost"