Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-22
BACKS ESTHET|C
RULE ON BUILDINGS
Park Body Urges Passage of
ShipStead Bill as Guard
to Civic Beauty.
Passage of the Shipstead bill giving

Passage of the Shipstead bill giving
governmental organizations power to
control the appearance of buildings
fronting on Federal reservations in the
District Is one OF the primary needs
of the city. and any other eSthetic
control should come later. according to
a decision Of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission yesterday
in concluding its tWo-day session here.
The commission had under consid-
Grafton letter from Senator King of
Utah ranking Democrat on the Senate
District committee. asking the commits
sion to study the question as to what
should BE- done to give governmental
agencies more power to control th:
beauty Of the Capital
Senator King for several weeks has
stated last night that the commission
considers the passage of the Shipstcad
bill the first step in gaining such con-
troll. and that its passage Is imperative
in view of the impending governmental
building program in the triangle.
Controls Appearances.
The Shipstead bill merely gives the
Government the power to control the
height and exterior appearance of
buildings fronting on Federal reserva-
tons. whereas it is Senator Kings idea.
1t is held. to control the development
OF suburban areas in the District to
conform more to the general Plan of
the city.
Senator King. for several week. has
been considering how the supervision
could be accomplished by legislation.
The Senator said yesterday he had
another conference on the subject with
Maj. W. K. r. Covell assistant engineer
commissioner. following which he adj
dressed a letter to Mai Gen Edgar Jad-
win, chairman of the Park and Plan
ming Commission, asking a study Of the
question. Senator King. in his letter.
said:
Il have felt that there should be
greater restriction as TO the char
acter of buildings erected within the
city and greater supervisory power con
fcrred upOA one or more organizations
over buildings erected within the Dis
trict / have believed that past zon-
ing regulations were not adequate and
am not sure that the present coming
law gives sufficient power 1t Is OBJ
vious that many beautiful avenues
that were designed for residential
purposes have been invaded by COM
mercial activities TO the impairment
va oNuAky Va WV CaSlIiGS
Too Little Supervision.
Il briieve there has not been suf-
iicient supervision. as result of which
some of the suburban districts have
not been developed with reference TO
the city and without regard for beauty
Il nave an incomplete draft Of a
measure which gives greater power to
the District Commissioners and District
organizations 10 deal with the matters
herein referred TO. but in considera-
ton OF the matter, / find that prob
lens OF serious import are presented
AS member OF the Senate Distric,
committee. / shall be under great obi
cations II yoIr commission and th.,
representation OF other organizations
VIII canvass these matters and submit
suggestions
The commission named Milton B
Medary o. Philadelphia and Frederick
Olmsted OF Brookline. Mass, members
Oh tne BODY, To make further study
OF the proposed approaches on the VIZ
ginia end OF the Arlington Memorial
Bridge, particularly in their relation "a
I plans oi the State Highway Colnm,s-
SION OF virginia 10 build roads TO thesc
approaches The two members will
spend next week making this study II
was said, but will not make report
Gntil the meeting OF the commission
next month.
The proposed boulevard to Noun
vernon again was discussed by the com
mission, which has approved the so.
called river route. and II was decided
10 offer the services Of the commission
TO tie body having In charge the 20Oth
anniversary celebration In 1882.