Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-31
District National Guard

AFTER study OF the legislation pro-
viding for the improvement Of the area
between the present Capitol grounds
and the Union Station Plaza as a
National Guard of the District of
Columbia are quite sure that they
viii have an armory at the present site
for some time. They expressed the
belief that it would be several years
more before the old hotel buildings
which the Guard now is occupying for
armory purposes will be RACED to make
way for the parkway project.
Faced with the task of providing the
Guard with home, the Public Building
Commission, it was said, Is not dis
posed to make any recommendations
looking to tearing down the buildings
now occupied by various units Of the
local militia for drill and training pur-
poses. Right now the Guard Is In no
better position for new and adequate
armory than it was 20 years ago, Con-
sreSs having again turned deaf ear
on the appeals for at least start on a
permanent building.
While the National Guard Associa-
ton Of the United States at its last
annual convention voted to have its
legislative committee work actively for
the local outfit, on the plea that the
National Capitals Militia should be a
model and have the best armory ia
cilities in the country, nevertheless no
results have been obtained from ges-
ture made at the last session to have
such legislation come into being. The
bills which would have given both aid
and encouragement to the local out
At died with the last Congress and will
have to be introduced anew If further
efforts are to be made to provide ade-
quate armory facilities.
just what form any new legislation
win take Is not known at this time,
but prior to the last session it was
proposed to the District of Columbia
Commissioners in the estimates that
they seek for the Guard an appro-
priaticn Of 100000 for the purpose OF
beginning construction OF 2 building
which, when completed. would cost not
to exceed $500, 1000, to be erected on
some public land already available in
the District of Columbia. As an
alternative, It was proposed that law
be passed assigning to the use OF the
Guard for armory purposes the Pen
sion once Building, In Judiciary
Square. This proposal met with the
approval Of the ofiicials Of the Grand
Army of the Republic, who, 1t was
represented, believed that it would be
very appropriate to use 1t for training
the youth Of the land for service to
the country In time Of war. It also
was proposed to make 1t q center for
the meetings of veteran organizations.
During the past IS years, 1t was
pointed out, the Government has spent
Tor the rental of armories here APP
proximately $4O0, 900, and 1t was added
that had the Government used this
amount at that time the Guard would
Al present have building, instead OF
continually facing the possibility OF
moving from one place to the other,
and each time going into more un-
satisfactory quarters. Aside from TINS
nat expenditure for rental, the Gov
eminent has spent many thousands OF
dollars more for the operation and reno
walton of such rented buildings, vass.
In larger sum, It was said, than would
even be required in the maintenance
az q Government structure. At any
rate. the Government would be SPEND
iue it ON the improvement Of its own
tsrnnerty. instead of on the property
81 some private holder.
There seems to be little probabilisy
that the armory question will be con-
sidered by the coming special session
az Congress. 1t Is q new Congress, ana
q lot more explaining rs to the. needs
81 the District troops will have TO be
resorted to In an effort to convince the
LEGISLATORS that there Is q real need here.
There are many agencies which nave
to be called into the conference on any
armory question, and by the time the
ranfiet 4 run. with explanations an
other Congress expires. Those govern
mental bodies which always have TO
Iot,k into and about any project for an
armory are the Public Buildings Conf
mission, the National Commission Of
zine Arts, the District of Columbia
commissioners. the Bureau of the Bud-
0et. the public buildings committees OF
the senate and House Of Representa-
tiyes and the committees on District .of
Columbia affairs Of both houses, to say
nothing of the matter eventually hay-
ine to be taken up with the subconl-
mittees of the appropriations comnlit-
tess which handle the District appro-
The great dificuity has been to get
all Of these bodies to agree, II they ever
Every time there is q change OF per-
xoi1fnel there must be further efforts to
scuuaint the newcomers with the ar
Althouel, there is little in the way
IL recreational facilities to attract the
men to the present somher quarters
which have been misnamed an armory,
sog1ae Of the units now have taken mat
tiers In their own hands and are tear.
fur out partitions Of the small hotel
rooms 60 as to make large recreation
halls. Many men Of the various COM
,Y,sar,ds have contributed furnishings
ss1d eouipmert,. In an effort to encour-
80 the enlisted personnel to make more
iIse Of the arlmcry and to look st Il as
+ meeting place and not just monili-
zation point to learn soldering. The
work Of some Of these organizations
have received much praise, and re-
xlIlts already have been shown BY
ses.e.,.asIe pickup ID the weekly NJ
feudar,ce 1T drills. Those companies
which, have resorted TO this have
sjun1ped from obscure places At the Dol
sfonr 81 the attendance records 70 the
tnl3 81 the list, one Of the most notable
csses being that 81 the 2pth Division
Military Police Company = now y Mt
ting out very attractive quarters, place
where the men can congTegate on drlIl
ni1lats and other nights when their mill
itsry duties % not require them g g