Evening star., 1928-04-29

tEle PENSION Once
Building. rs soon Secrrtarv Davis,
as The General Ac-
counting once, which now occupies it.
moves into the new building being
erected in the Avenue triangle
The War Department is also in need
OF additional space for several of its
activities which are not properly pro-
vide6 for. or which in the near future
will be compelled to vacate buildings
they now occupf
The needs of the District National
Guard will be considered in conjunction
with the requirements Of the War De-
partment tor which the old Pension
Building would be suitable. and endcav-
the National Guard with those of the
War Department
Il wish to assure you Of my personal
interest in securing adequate accommo-
dationS for the National Guard, District
Of Columbia, and trust that some SatiS-
factory solution may be reached in the
near future"
The letter does not meet the request
OF Gen. Stephan that the President be
urged TO request Congress TO put the
matter through at this session, and thus
end activities covering period of years
ny which the Guard officials have sought
tc obtain a permanent home for the
local troops. Gen, Stephan. in his let
ter TO the Secretary of War. after his
personal interview with that official,
pointed out that the Guard officials have
met with opposition to every plan they
have suggested for providing permanent
quarters here for the militia, both
from committees in Congress and from
various commissions He also pointed
cut that the delay was hurting the eff
cheney Of the local Guard
Those in close touch with the situa-
tion have decided. in view of the tenure
Of the letter Of the Secretary of War,
that nothing will be done 10 urge the
present Congress 10 act on the measures.
50 that the Guard would at least be
assured OF a home wherein all drills
could be held az any time Of the year
For the first time. during all the months
that the local Guard officials have been
seeking the building for arnlory pur-
poses, 1t appears that the War Depart
ment now has its eyes on the building
and the National Guard will be second
sry 10 the War Department needs. In
the face Of this. Congress is going ahead
with plans for developing the Capitol
plaza between the Union Staten and
the present Capitol grounds In this
area now are located the several build
tngs. formerly Government hotels, which
are being used for armory purposes,
under assignment made by the Public
Buildings Commission.
These buildings are scheduled to come
down under these development plans,
which would leave the Guard not only
without 8 home, Dat totally without
funds with which an adequate build
ing could be hired for the purpose
The officials of the Guard found this
out for q certainty when they were
seeking a building before moving into
the present quarters, after the Attorney
General of the United States had rem
de~@d an opinion in which he held
that the local National Guard vas such
3 Federal activity as 10 require the
Pubic Buildings Commission 10 find
T. ? horse
The bills In Congress do not give
the Guard authority 70 begin the use
OF the building Immediately, but merely
assure the use oE the building for THIS
purpoSs as soon as the Government
ACTIVITY now occupying it Is moved
elsewhere. Il also was planned to make
the building available for the use OF
various veterans organizations OF the
city.
The local Guard officials have asked
the Militia Bureau OF the War Depart
merit for an allowance OF s4O0 for the
purchase Of material 70 be used Tor the
construction Of two bridges BY the En-
rineer Regiment while the oTganlzatlon
Is taking its annual period o. nelo
training at Camp Albert G, Ritcf1ie. al
Cascade nd in August These bridges
viii b. q permanent addition 10 the
esno facilities and viii provide the
Engineer Regiment with instruction
70. some useful purpose One OF the
bridges is to be erected oyer the inlet
70 g14e Of the lakes there and w:ll pro-
vide shorter means Of reaching the
target butts. 1t was said, while the
other viii shorten the distance 10 the
stables and 20 other target butts wnlch
ere 20 b. constructed Al the present
time il is necessary for men proceed
fnz 70 and from the target butts during
rife practice 10 make a long cetour
which consumes considerable time.
Second Lieut.. REX p Muillgan. Bat
terry c. 260th Coast Artillery. has sue
eesxfuilv completed his examinations
foy promotion and has been advanced
n, the grade Of first lieutenant and as
elgyed To the same unit. Ee has served
during the past year as second heu-
tenant o. Coast Artillery
ksE NBrS4 iE4sA4Asa 1%CSS<s4 =ssNa tt-4" ''ep
beer granted authority by the Militia
BUREAU u organize the Medical Pepaft-
ynent Detachment q the 2G0th Coast
Artillery. Capt. 3 "a CraySon, Med
zeal Corps viii be Ia command of the
6e1achnent which win De composer
of 10 enlisted men. recruiting ~ whom
siKeady has been started II is plan
red ~ haze FUff.cient men IL the outfit
20 obtain Federal recognition and mus
TER oY May
Ever since Us organization this out
ct mas oeen without q fnedical de-
&scigne1.t. although Capt Crayson has
b@eY assigned there rs the medical
efLceT When the oraanl18tlou gent
tntc camp Il either had ~ send IT.
casualties ~ tiae post ugspltal az Port
Monroe. sgfTle distance from its camp
Or care for them G3th DeFaofnei detailed
from NJ Lire u was Doinfeo olt To the
Vas Department tnst this gas = very
DnEs 'lstaetoFs arrangement with the
result glat the re~ of2znizatlgu W8s
aUtioFlzeo
Company 4 1915 Engineer. Capt