Evening star., 1928-12-31

With progress maze on many
important projects which have been
under consideration from twenty-five
to hundred years and which are now
actually taking shape.
In legislation for increasing the
salaries and bettering the working con-
ditions of Government employees the
past year has been one of record
achievement.
Through the extensive hearings con-
Quoted in systematic way by the So
called Gibson subcommittee, in CO.
operation with the Bureau of Efficiency
and other District and Federal agencies,
a comprehensive and co-ordinated pro-
gram of legislation to promote economy
and efficiency in the municipal admin
istration. which has already resulted in
annual savings of more than a million
dollars, was started
The present session of Congress be-
fore the Christmas recess definitely
added two new buildings to the per-
manent building program. Both House
and Senate passed the Elliott-Keyes Dill
creating a commission to prepare pre-
lininary plans and cost estimates for
the Supreme Court Building, which IS
to occupy a site facing the Capitol and
north of the Library of Congress. Con-
gress has already appropriated S5OO,OO0
for the site and agreements have been
reached for sale of the property. An
additional $268000 is to be carried IN
the deficiency appropriation bill to
complete purchase of the site.
Auxiliary Office Building.
The House passed the Dallinger bill
authorizing erection of an auxiliary
House Office Building on site directly
south of the Capitol and west of the
present House Office Building, between
New Jersey and Delaware avenues, B
and C. streets. The bill authorizes ap-
preparation of $3.400,000 for the site
and building, and has been favorably
reported by the Senate public buildings
and grounds committee. Its enactment
is expected to be completed early IN the
new year.
One of the most stupendous city
building projects ever attempted in any
of the great capital cities was started
during the year with the passage OF
legislation authorizing acquisition of
all of the privately owned land in the
triangle south of Pennsylvania avenue
to the Mall at an estimated cost of
S25 ,OO0, 900, which means rebuilding the
very heart of the Nations Capital.
Already two of the great new Federal
buildings have been started in this
triangle for the Commerce Department
and Internal Revenue Bureau, while
four other of the Federal building pro-
jects have been started outside of this
area. The Treasury appropriation bill,
which was the first of the four big
supply bills to be passed before the
Christmas holidays, carries a lump sum
appropriation to continue work on the
Federal building program, including
change in site and increased authorize
ton for the Federal Archives Building.
The Mount Vernon boulevard, advo-
Gated for more than 40 years, is to be
started Immediately and completed In
time for the bicentennial celebration of
Washington'S birth in 1882, with an in
itial appropriation of $2,500,000. Work
will start as soon as the George Wash
ington Bicentennial Commission ap-
proves the route early in the new year.
All of the Government agencies which
have been interested in this highway
from the City of Washington to Wash
ington's home at Mount Vernon, which
is intended to be the finest strip of
highway in the world and most i'm
pressive entrance to the National Cap
ital, are agreed that the river route Is
most desirable.
Development of Plaza.
other important development projects
around the Capitol which have been
forwarded during the past year include
the development of the plaza between
the Capitol and Union Station, on
which the Senate Is expected to give
its final approval after the Christmas
recess, when the street railway COM
panies have completed their surveys
and been granted a hearing on reloca-
ton of tracks. Appropriations are
under consideration to start work on
the relocated and enlarged Botanic
Garden to make way for improvement
of the west front of the Capitol with
what is to be known as Union Square,"
where the Botanic Garden now is.
Included in the plaza development Is
the new broad avenue from Union Sta
ton to Pennsylvania avenue at Second
street, linking in with the extension
and improvement of B street, as au-
thorized in the Arlington Memorial
Bridge act.
Fitting in with this Federal develop
ment around the Capitol is the proposed
new municipal center between Third
and Sixth streets north of Pennsylvania
avenue to Judiciary Square, the bill to
authorize which is now before the bud
get bureau for consideration prepar-
atory to being transmitted to Congress.
Large sums have been appropriated
and work has progressed rapidly on the
permanent building program for the
District reformatory at Lorton. Va, and
workhouse at Occoquan. Va, for new
wing at the District Jail, and, under
the War Department housing program,
hn o1
ical Center at Walter Reed.
Great Falls Project.
A comprehensive and coordinated
program of park development for the
National Capital and the Maryland and
Virginia vicinage, to be financed with
immediate advances from the Federal
Treasury so as to preserve the natural
beauties of the region around Washing
ton, is proposed in bill introduced by
Representative Cramton of. Michigan,
which he discussed recently before the
American Civic Association. This COM
prehends the, preservation of the gorge
of Great Falls with palisade drives on
both sides of the Potomac River from
Mount Vernon and Fort Washington to |
above Great Falls. This measure is to
oe pushed for early action in Congress. |
When the present short session of |
Congress opened it received in the Fed
eral budget the largest District budget |
ever presented, on which hearings are |
to start January 3, following inspections |
already made by both the House and |
Senate subcommittee of District schools, |
and other activities. Dur ;
ing the current fiscal year the District |
has had the largest appropriation bill !,
ever passed for the Federal CITY.
amounting to $37,625, ,208.
During the first session Of the Sew |
entieth Congress, early in 1928, the |
Senate subcommittee on District ap-
under the leadership of |
Senator PhippS, Republican, of Col !
orado, made a strong effort to restore
the 60-40 ratio of apportioning the cost
OF maintaining the National Capital be-