Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-26
An Executive Office Plan.

an Executive Office Plan.
The structure erected in 1902 for the
accommodation of the executive Offices
that which was burned the other night
was Tot designed as a permanent &C.
commodation. It was proposed and
planned and erected as a temporary
provision Of quarters for the President
and his stsff. The architectural de-
sign was kept in harmony as far as
possible with the central building, the
White House, and a balance was eff
fected by the creation of a corridor on
the east side to give access to the main
building on special occasions of large
attendance, as at receptions.
II it Is decided to provide for the
executive offices in permanent quarters
outside of the white House grounds, y
as for example within q new State De-
partment structure, the latter, &C.
cording to 8 plan urged hereto
fore and now advocated anew ir
discussion of the burning of the Execu-
tive once Building, possibly replacing
the present tri-departmental building
Immediately west of the White House
or occupying the square to the north
of that. site, west of Lafayette Square
it would be possible to restore the White
House to its original individuality OF
appearance, without the excrescences to
the east and to the west involved in the
1902 enlargement plan. The Executive
Mansion would then resume its true
character.
It is, however, in the event of de-
cision to remove the executive Offices
from the White House reservation, not
essential to combine them with the
State Department, when that depart
rnent is given its own housing. A plan
has been proposed, though not hereto
fore strongly urged, that would give
the maximum OF accommodation and Of
dignity and yield the best possible archi-
tectural and landscape effect. That
plan is to sweep away the present tri-
departmental building, the remodeling
Of which would cost at least $1,000, 600
and would yield only q mskeshift re-
suit, leaving o questionable structure
regarding fire security. On that site,
directly west Of the present executive
ofiices, would be erected q building bal
ancing In design and dimensions the
Treasury on the east, and providing ac-
commodations not only for the execu-
tive working force, but for the housing
Of foreign guests and the holding Of
important national and international
conferences, oficial entertainments and
social assemblies. The State Depart
ment would, in such a plan, find place
upon the site to tha north, imme-
diately west Of Lafayette Square.
At present there are no facilities In
Washington, within the scope Of the
Governments own provisions, for the
entertainment Of foreign visitors or the
assembly Of large groups for the dis
cuSsion Of national and international
affairs. An Executive office building
designed upon properly liberal lines
would supply that deficiency. It woulc
provide with dignity for the transaction
Of the executive business. 1t would cleal
the White House Of its disfigurine
excrescences.
This matter might as well be con-
sidered now, in all its aspects. The
Government is in the midst of a con-
struction program, designed to provide
adequately for its needs. 1t is planning
arrangements and relocations anC
new buildings on q scale never hereto.
fore undertaken, a proper scale, with 6
truly economic disregard for the amount
Of the expenditures eventually to b.
made. Makeshifts and compromises ar,
not necessary. The opportunity is al
hand to correct old faults and to Great,
the ideal Capital. This Christmas Eve
fire should result in the completion o.
the program along the correct lines.