Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-28
Financing Municipal Center.


ing the new Municipal Center were
frightened by conference Wednesday
between Chairman Simmons Of the sub
committee on the District budget Of the
House appropriations committee and
Secretary Mellon, chief of the Federal
Building Commission.
II 1t Is wise to devote all our accumu-
lated resources to this one project this
District now has to its credit In
the Federal Treasury suficient funds
to acquire all of the property in the
four squares desired for the new
Municipal Center. lying on both sides
of John Marshall place. north of Penn
sylvania avenue to the Courthouse
Square, between Third and Sixth streets,
and south Of Indiana and Louisiana
avenues. This acquisition has already
been authorized by act Of Congress.
The new Municipal Center will be the
first step to dominate the improvement
of the north side of Pennsylvania ave-
nue., the south side being improved
by the Federal building program. This
new Municipal Center is one of the out
standing features of the Capital de-
velopment program which calls for
vista UP John Marshall place to the
chastely classical courthouse, which was
originally the City Hall Of Washington.
This vista is to be one Of the two i'm
portant cross-axes Of the Mall, the
other being at the new Department Of
Justice Building, where Center Mar
ket now stands. The Municipal Center
win be at the conveyance Of three
Of the most important streets In the
Capital, Pennsylvania avenue, B street.
which Is to be Strengthened and i'm
proved from the Lincoln Memorial past
the Capitol Grounds, and the new ave-
nue. from Union Station to Pennsylvania
avenue at Second street. The Munich
pal Center will face into Union Square,
which is an important landscaping
project In the Mall where the Botanic
Garden Ii now.
the Municipal Center without unduly
cfsmping or ciirhing other desirable
public improvements and without an
increase In taxes. Chairman Simmons,
who has made an intensive study Of the
District budget and requirements for
public improvements, has, he thinks.
found q way. After conferences with
the District oficials and with the
city builders he proposed to Secretary
Mellon that-since the Federal Gov
eminent contemplates taking over the
present Municipal Building eventually.
and since 1t Is the Federal building pro-
gram crowding around the present
Municipal Building that forces the Dis
trict government TO move instead Of
expanding on that location--the Federal
Government should buy ct once the
District Building.
This will be no hardship or addi-
tional expense TO the Federal Govern
ment. II Is really In the nature Of q
book transaction, which gives the Dis
trict government credit in the Treas
ury Of suficient funds to start the
erection Of the first unit In the pro-
jected Municipal Center, which will be
the administration building.
It is proper that ali the land in
tended TO be used eventually for the
Municipal Center should be bought at
once, 90 that the District may not be
raising the price Of this property against
itself-and the money Is already avail
able for this purpose.
In this connection it has been
pointed out that while the present Dis
trict Building will make an ideal home
for some Of the smaller units OF the
Federal Government, 1t is not structur-
ally Of the proper type for best use
for District ofhces and does not allow
best use Of floor space. In the new
building this can be corrected.
In the meantime, Chairman Sim
mons proposes that the District gov
eminent remain where 1t is, occupying
the building that it will have sold to
the Federal Government until the new
administration building has been COM
pleted This would mean only one
moving for the District ofices.
II IL o we'll thought-out program. It
Is apparently in the interest Of
economy and efficiency and Of Capital
development, Of advantage TO the Fed
erai Government and 10 the District
taxpayers.
The Prince Of Wales uses an sirplane