Evening star., 1933-11-10
WORK FOR OUTSIDE
ARCHITECTS IN j. 5.
PROGRAM IS URGED
Robert Would Spread En-
pIoyment on Federal
Construction.
INDORSES BIG BUILDING
PROJECTS IN LEAN YEARS
Allays Fears Created by Setting Up
of New Procurement Division
Within Government.

The Government should throw more
public construction on the market dur
ing depression years and less during
years of prosperity, in the opinion Of
L. w. Roberts, jr., Assistant Secretary
of the Treasury.
Speaking last night at the annual
banquet of the Association Of Federal
Architects at the Army-Navy Country
Club, Mr.. Robert expressed his support
of the architectural engineering profess
sion, both inside and outside of the
Government, and declared that so long
as he held his present post the profess
sion would have a friend at court"
Pledges Normal Procedure.
Allaying fears that had spread through
Government architectural circles be-
cause of organization of the new pro-
cllrement division of the Treasury and
the temporary status of many employees,
the speaker said: There's nothing un-
usual going to happen. hope the Gov
erEment architects won't misunderstood
what I have said about employment of
private architects. I've always been
convinced that during periods of high
building cost the Government should go
slow on building. But when there is a
slump In the construction business, then
the Government should be able to fill
up the void"
When there Is a slump in commercial
work he thought the agencies in Wash
ington should be a co-ordinating unit.
with supervisory functions, with the
architectural contracts going to outside
architects. But he said that the Gov
eminent agencies should be of such
reasonable size" that during prosperity
for the outside architects the Govern
ment agencies could design all Federal
structures. This program he thought
would be best for the profession as a
whole. Mr.. Robert praised the new
spirit which he said was being shown
by all construction branches of the Gov
ernment.
Louis A. Simon. head of the archi-
tectural division of the Office of Super
vising Architect of the Treasury, which
has been placed in the Procurement
Division, outlined the objects of the
Federal service to public buildings and
architecture.
Simon's Work Praised.
Mr.. Simon was warmly praised by C.
| c. Zantzinger. architect, and member
of the Federal Board of Architectural
ConsultantS.
Charles Moore, chairman of the Fine
Arts Commission. reviewed the history
of architectural development here, de-
claring that nothing is too good for
Washington. The very best is required
for your Capital" he said The public
building program here, under the great
plan," Mr.. Moore said, was the great
est composition the world has ever
seen, and Is now being realized before
our eyes" He suggested that architects
make buildings speak the language of
the United States" He praised post Of
fees now being erected in various sec
tons as speaking this language"
Gen. Frank T. Hines, administrator
Of veterans affairs, praised men in the
Government service for their loyalty.
You do not receive in compensation
what you earn" he declared.
Editor Among Speakers.
H. H. Saylor, editor of the magazine
Architecture, declared progress in the
profession could be made only through
evolution" not revolution" and that
we can go forward only on the sure
knowledge of what has gone before"
N. Max Dunning, assistant director
Of the Housing Division of the Public
Works Administration explained the
activities and policies of that organiza-
ton. Progress was being made toward
establishment Of the Emergency Hous-
ing Corporation, he said.
Edwin B. Morris, president of the
association, who was POSTMASTER, said
an investigation had disclosed that ap-
parently the supervising architects Of
flee Of the Treasury was the Oldest
known architectural organization. He
expressed hope that the ''old and hon.
ored name and its traditions can be
continued in the Procurement Divi-
sion"
Among the invited guests were Gen.
Frank T. Hines, Col L. H Trippe,
Capt. w. H. Allen, Maj. W. A. Daniel
son and Capt. A. w. Parker.
Musical entertainment featured
quartet of F. Brennan. w. Hannah,
j. j. Mcmahon and A. M Tabbutt, with
Leslie j. Duffy as accompanist. A
novelty number Of music on saws was
furnished by A. Bell and W. L. Bell.
The committee in charge of the
banquet consisted of E. T. Dunlap, H.
A Cox, G. A. Daddy, L. Krauss, j. E.
Miller and A. Mitchell.
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