Evening star., 1933-12-11
FUNDS FOR APEX
BUILDING MAY BE
ASKEDOF CONGRESS.
Structure Would House
Trade, Fine Arts and Park
Commissions.
FEDERAL TRADE QUARTERS
HELD URGENTLY NEEDED
Plans Have Been Drawn and
Treasury Has Given Project
Preferred Classification.

Erection of the Apex Building, de-
mission, the Fine Arts Commission and
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission, may be included In
the suggested list of appropriations for
continuation of the Government build
ing program in Washington which. it
is reported. will be submitted to Con-
gress with the approval of the President.
This building, which takes its name
because it will be at the small or eastern
end of the triangle of Federal build
ingS bounded by Fifteenth street,
Pennsylvania and Constitution avenues
and Sixth street, is the only one of this
particular group of Government build
ingS not completed or under conStruc-
ton, although the plans for it were
drawn. Its construction was authorized
by Congress in an act approved March
&, 1881. However, before the actual con-
struction could be begun. in the follow
ing year, as an economy measure, Con-
gresS halted the use of funds for this
work. There is no prohibition, how
ever against the use Of funds for the
Apex Building now.
Trade Commission Need Home.
There is vital need for the construc-
ton of new home for the Federal
Trade Commission without further de-
lay, according to officials of the Gov
ernment. The urgency of the case has
been impressed upon both the President
and Secretary Ickes, public works ad-
ministrator If there is to be any al
location of funds under the public
works program for Government build
tngS in Washington, funds should be
allowed for the proposed new home of
the Trade Commission, it is said.
The commissions present quarters
are recognized by fire officials as an
extreme fire hazard. A building iden-
tical to the one now occupied by the
commission was destroyed by fire when
occupied by the commission in August,
1890. with a resulting estimated loss
of 100000. A brief fire, one of a'few
hours duration would undoubtedly de-
stroy the present quarters of the COM
mission with its records.
Fireproof Structure Needed.
A permanent fireproof structure is
urgently needed for the protection of
the records of the commission, eSpe-
cially the records incident to the ad-
ministration of the securities act and
the records of the investigation of util-
ity corporations under a Senate reso-
luton. Once destroyed these records
could only be reproduced, if at all, by
the expenditure of untold effort and
enormous expense to the Government.
The Apex Building is classified by the
Treasury Department as a class A or
preferred project. The new duties of
the Trade Commission in the admin
istration of the securities act of 1888
increases the demand for adequate and
permanent quarters. The commission
is badly in need of quarters commen-
surate to a permanent agency of the
Government. and is advised that it is
the only permanent executive or inde-
pendent agency for which no adequate
or permanent home has been con-
structed or for which provision has not
been made. For IA years the commits
sion has occupied one of the emergency
war buildings aptly described as a
"sweltering. ramshackle, stucco and
taxpayer building"
UnbearabIy Hot in Summer.
These quarters are unbearably hot in
. the Summer time, making 1t necessary
from time to time to excuse employees
/ because of the heat. The building is
, difficult to keep warm in the Winter
and it leaks badly during each heavy
rain. The building is without dignity,
is unsightly and is unsanitary, it is
urged in support of the proposal that
the money for the construction of the
Apex Building be made available with
out further delay.