Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-26
SPEAKERS OUTLINE
PLANS. ]! At MEETING
Mellon, Acting as Host,
LaudS Interest Shown
by President.
Continued From First pss.l

ms Is more than merely the making
Of a beautiful ethyl. Washington is not
Only the Nation Capital; it Is the SYM
Dol of America. BY its dignity and
architectural inspiration we stimulate
pride in our country, weencourage that
elevation of thought and character
which comes from great architecture.
Our Government in Washington has
grown greatly during the past is years.
We have a working force OF nearly
10000 employees. as compared with 35,-
900 score of years ago.
War and economic recovery have de-
layed us in providing even cur bare
necessities of Office space. Nearly $4,000
employees ara today in rented buildings
or temporary structures built during
the war. which were expected to last
but, q year or two. Many of the builof-
inge. are insanitary. Above ell, the de-
partments are divided among scores OF
unavoidable and scattered buildings
For instance Agriculture is housed in
IS different places in the city and the
Treasury in n places. Commerce in 20
places. We are paving rents and losing
efficiency in sums far greater than the
interest upon adequate buildings. Many
of the buildings we occupy are an~eye-
sore TO the city. We have an author
lied building program for, say. 1900
employees. yet II we would satisfy even
our present need we should have new
buildings to accommodate more than
10000 Government workers.
Must Fit Program to Traditions.
Congress has authorized the Begin
ming of great program which must
extend over many years. 1t is our pri-
mary duty to do more than erect ofices.
We must 1T that program into the ira
dftions and the symbolism of the Capt.
tai. Our forefathers had a great vision
OF the Capital for America, unique from
its birth in Its inspired conception.
flexibility and wonderful beauty No
one in $50 years has been able to i'm.
prose upon it. S.
The founders Of the Republic also
gaze us great tradition in arclitec-
tuIA. In after years we have held to
It m some periods and in others we
have fallen sadly away from 1t. AL
though it is perhaps too early to envis-
age such a glorious future, I do hope
TO 1--we to see the day when we shall
remove from Washington the evidences
OF those fails from the high standards
which would have been depIored by the
founders of our Republic and have been
deplored by the citizens of good taste
ever since these transgressions.
Probably one Of the major buildings
which we regret most Is the State. War
and Navy Building have been vastly
interested to find that the Congress OF
that day had a splendid taste. for they
directed 1t to be the duplicate of the
Treasury Building, but the administra-
ton of that day delivered IL externally
over 20 an architecturaf orgy + have
been lately advised that for a COM
pamtively modest SUM we can striu.sit
OF Its function to represent the differ
ent types OF architecture known to man
and bring 1t back to the sound classic
lines Of the Treasury, as Congress in
tended. And this again points to the
responsibility of the adTninistrati0n. for
Congress is today, - then, giyine, gem.
erous authority and asking that we do
our part in design and construction.
Spiritual Impulse Counts.
.''Tt is the wish and the demand of
the American people that our new
buildings shah comport with the dignity
Of the Capitas Of America, that they
shall meet modern requirements OF
utility. that they shall fulfill the stand
ards OF taste. that they shall be a last
ing Inspiration. In architecture it Is
the spiritual impulse that counts
These buildings should express the
ideals and standards of our times. They
will be the measure of our skill and
taste. by which we will be judged by
our children's children
Mr. Mellon has insisted that the
great responsibility before US is not one
which can be discharged by any one In
dlyiuual. 1t must be the product Of
the common mind of many men, devout
10 secure for America the vast realiza-
ton OF the expression Of our Nation.
And I am confident that we have
within the Nation the taste. skill and
artistic sense TO perform our task, for
our architects have already given to
America the leading place in their great
art
1T is on this national stage that the
great drama of our political life has
been played. Here were fought the
political battles that tested the founda-
TONS Of our Government. We face
similar problems OF our time, and here
centuries hence some other Americans
viii face the great problems OF their
time. For our tasks and their tasks
tnere Is need of daily inspiration of
surroundings that suggest not only the
traditions Of the past but the greatness
Of the future"
Mellon Opens Discussion.
Secretary Mellon. who as presiding
of1cer was the first speaker of the eve
hing. opened discussion of the public
building question with reference TO a
previous meeting OF Federal officials
held 25 years ago IN the old Arlington
Hotel where ne said, circumstances
we're almost identical" with those last
hight.
Then as now" he said. ct was a
meeting Of those representing the Gov
eminent, and IL was held for file pur-
pose OF considering plans to make more
Beautiful the City of Washington.
The principal speaker on that occa-
sion was President Roosevelt. The Con-
efess of the United States was repre-
sented by the speeches OF Speaker
Cannon and others. and Mr.. Root. with
bis great cloQuence. cllampioned the
cause which ne had 50 much at heart
and which he himself had done SC
much TO advance.
ION that historic occasion, the host
vas the American Institute OF Archi.
tpcts. It is most fitting. therefore. thai
tonight We should have as our guest:
the Representatives OF that great and in
fueptial organization. To whose fore
sight and untiring efforts we. owe no
only the revival but the preservation
and advancement OF plan for tn
orderly and systematic development D
The Nations Capital.
1.-The meeting held III 1905 centeret
attention on the needs Of Washington
At the same time il made certain tina
the future development OF the cit!
should conform. to balanced ant
comprehensive plan. based upon tn
spacious and digniheds ideas Of Presi
dent Washington and Mai. IsEnfanl
with such notifications as might b
!. required TO meet modern conditions snt
i, the city's growth.
Carrying Out Ideas.