Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-23
DEGREE OF PocAHoNTAs.

In the midst of moving from one
makeshift armory to another, officials
OF the National Guard of the District OF
Columbia last week were approached by
q representative of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission seeking
information on armory requirements for
presentation to the full commission,
which has undertaken to study the
question Of housing for the local troops.
Very recently this body disapproved of
the Bowman bill, which would have
authorized the purchase Of the Wash
ington Auditorium and its remodelin9
for the permanent use of the National
Guard for the training of the local
troops. The bill never had much chance
OF getting through the present Con-
gresS, but this was made certain when
the park and planning commission
stepped into the limelight with its stamp
Of disapproval.
Those familiar with the powers and
duties Of the Federal planning COM
mission do not see what result is 70
come from the activities of the body
in interesting itself in an armory. It
was formed purely for the planning of
the Capital City and its environs, such
as mapping out highways, etc., and the
acquisition and planning of parks and
recreation spaces. Even after 1t ac-
jurisdiction over them ceases, for it is
the duty Of another agency of the Fed
eral Government here, the Office Of pub
lie buildings and public parks of the
National Capital to develop them.
There never has been given to the
public or to the Guard officials any ex-
PLANTATION or reason for turning down
the Washington Auditorium bill. It
can only be surmised that it was be-
cause Of the close proximity of the
building to the Lincoln Memorial Bridge
and the b street boulevard leading to
IT. But the fact that the planning
commission disapproved its purchase
and remodeling for use as an armory
for the National Guard does not mean
that it will be removed. It is private
property. and the only way its removal
could be brought about would be by
act OF Congress providing not only the
authority but the money with which
to take the land for public use.
Unless, 1t was pointed out, the PLAN
ming commission has sufficient influence
with Congress to bring about an ap-
preparation for the acquisition of a site
and the erection of building thereon
for armory purposes its consideration
OF the matter will not amount to much.
Present officials of the Guard and those
who have preceded them have worked
for more than a quarter of a century
in an effort to convince Congress of the
needs OF the local troops In the mat
ter OF adequate training facilities.
Their work, in more recent years, has
had the support of National Guard ON
Gals throughout the country, who have
sought to persuade members Of Congress
that at least the militia of the Capital
City should have armory facilities which
would stand out as q model for the
States to follow. The Federal War De-
partment, 1t was added, is constantly
urging the States to provide armory
facilities for their citizen troops as con-
dition precedent for the recognition Of
the units and for the loan of millions
Of dollars worth of valuable military
property necessary for training, but in
the District Of Columbia from year to
year the Guard is tossed about into
buildings which no other Federal agency
would have. And, as a matter of fact,
it has been ruled that the local Guard
has the same standing as any OF the
Federal departments and independent
bureaus, SO far as the ALLEGATION of
space Is concerned
While officials of the Guard are not
spurning any aid they might get from
any source in their efforts to have an
arnory provided, about the only help
they may expect from the planning
commission is a recommendation that
II and when funds for @ building and
site are provided it be located at a
point in the city which the commission
considers will ut In with its planning
scheme.
The first aid must come from the
District Commissioners. The previous
boards have not shown much disposition