Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-26
Presidents Quarters in Re-
placed State Department
Building Suggested.
FINE ARTS COMMISSION
HEAD OFFERS PROPOSAL
Structure for Government Archives
Also Included in Projected
Plan.

1
Army Engineer officer in charge of tn,
White House Building and grounds
was concerned today with the i'm.
mediate task of providing adequate
temporary quarters in the State, Wal
and Navy Building for the Presiden,
and his secretaries, assurance was giver
today by leaders in Congress that what.
ever legislation and funds are needed
for the erection of a new and adeuuats
building for the Executive offices will
be promptly provided by Congress.
That Congress will welcome a recon-.
mendation to provide a permanent fire.
proof, modern Office building for the
use Of the President and his rapidly en-.
larging clerical force, is emphasized to.
day by the most prominent men In
congress who are in the city-Demo-
Gratis as well as Republicans. This
should be an essential part of the
Federal Building program in the
National Capital, they pointed out.
Urges Fireproof Structure.
Senator Wesley L. Jones of Washing
ton, who will be chairman of the COM
mittee on appropriations of the Senate
said he believed that 1t will be far bet
ter to erect a fireproof building to be
used as the executive Offices of the
PRESIDENT than to repair the Offices
which have been damaged by fire.
/ looked over the executive offices at
d az
Senator Jones, land while 1t would be
possible to repair that building, per-
sonally think We should put up fire-
proof building there. The executive
ofnceS which were damaged by fire were
intended to be temporary structures and
contained great deal of wood. I be-
lieve that We should take some of the
money which has been set aside for
the Federal buildings in the District OF
Columbia and construct q new office
building for the President"
Senator Jones believes that the ex-
ecutive offices should be erected on the
site OF the old offices. He did not take
kindly TO q suggestion that the OLD
State, War and Navy Building should
be removed to give place to larger of.
fees for the President, with the State
Department and the War Department
placed elsewhere.
Such a plan might be carried oui
later" said Senator Jones, "but I be-
neve that the erection of fireproof Of
noes 1or the President, with perhaps q
SITE VIII be satisfactory for many years
to come"
Fire Sorry Spectacle.
1T Is sorry spectacle for the country
| to see the President climbing through
WINDOW into Smoke-f1lled office tc
rescue important state papers," said
representative Britten of Illinois today
1t emphasizes to the whole country the
absolute need, in the interests of good
government and economic adminiStra-
ton, for the Federal building program,
In the Capital for which Congress has
already authorized an expenditure OF
$75,0O0,000 and a bill has passed the
House authorizing an additional Sis
OOO,OOO. The new Executive once
Building should be made one of the
early buildings on this program, Price
less papers and records are now al
hourly fire risk in non-fireproof build
mgS occupied by practically every de-
partment OF Government, just as were
the White House records when Presi-
oenC hoover and his secretaries climbed
through the windows to rescue them on
Christmas eve."
Several members Of the House have
already stated that they are ready ia
introduce whatever bills may be needed
for authorizing the new Executive Ofice
Building. including Representative
Royal johnson Of South Dakota and
Mr.. Britten.
There will probably be flood of bills
introduced proposing a new White
House Office building. It is likely, how
ever, that the one which will be enacted
INTO law Will be sponsored by Chairman
Elliot OF the House committee on public
buildings and grounds, who Is a MEM
Der OF the Public Buildings Commission.
If new executive Office building Is
the best thing to be done in the opinion
Of those In charge, it will be promptly
authorized by Congress.
Mr.. Moore's Proposal.
Construction Of new State Depart
| ment Building on the west side of La
War and Navy Building, just across
from the White House, and provision
for the presidential executive offices on
! that site or in the new State Depart
ment Building were suggestions advanced
today by Charles Moore, chairman OF
the Fine Arts Commission, who has
given the subject exhaustive study and
thought.
The executive offices that were burned
| on Christmas eve were constructed
merely as a temporary measure, to get
the President out Of the White House
during his working hours. removing the
| Chief Executives workshop from his
home, Mr.. Moore said. Now that the
fire has made 1t necessary to repair the
executive Offices, the time seems oppor-
tune. in the opinion of Mr.. Moore, to
look to the future and make permanent
arrangements.
The present "monstrosity"-the State
War and Navy Building-should be torn
down, the chairman of the Fine Arts
| Commission insists, as it is not only an
| architectural miSfit, but Is fire hazard
In the opinion of prominent architects
Mr.. Moore explained, if the building
caught fire it would be destroyed in an
| hour and half. The exposed iron
beams would warp with the heat, he
| Sald. and the granite would crumple
sending the structure tumbling into Its
| foundations.
Cost $4,000, 900.
| IL would cost some $3,000,0 900 to re-
| mooel the State, War and Navy Build
| ing, Mr.. Moore pointed out, and then
| Wnen the job has been completed, there
would be but makeshift, at best.
| line best thing to do is to scrap the
pun4lng, Mr.. Moore asserted. "It will
pe cneaper to tear 1t down."
| Inc proposed State Department on
| tne west side of Lafayette Square might
conealn provisions for the executive Of
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