Evening star., 1934-07-08
ANNUAL RENT BILL
OF 100000
Birth of New Deal Agencies
Taxing Facilities in
D. c. to Limit.
CONTINUED From First Page.)

avenue-to balance the development
nearing completion on the east side
OF the White House, in the downtown
section-is being undertaken. In that
general location, the new War and
Navy Departments are tentatively
scheduled to go, but there Is no money
in sight for these.
The War Department Is housed in
many scattered buildings in various
sections of the city. officials in inti-
mate touch with the situation believe
that the War Department will be
taken care of first, so that its far-f1ung
forces may be consolidated. The Navy
Department is housed in the war-built
structure on Potomac Park. Mt Seven
teenth street and Constitution avenue.
Secretary Swanson's attitude when
asked about the new Navy Depart
ment, is that right now, at least. the
service would prefer to have money
to put into ships.
$4,000, 900 for Interior Edifice.
Secretary Ickes has already an
nounced that the new Interior Depart
ment is to be erected shortly just
south of the present building. at
Eighteenth and E streets, across Raw
Inns Square. This is to be a 10000
900 structure, not in what has been
called the ornate style" of the Hoover
administration, but a good, useful
building for conducting the widespread
affairs of the Interior Department, &C
cording to Secretary IckeS.
Many officials believe that this new
Interior Department is the launching
of a new Government building pro-
gram in that section of Washington,
with this structure forming key to
the future development.
The Fine Arts Commission would
have the Government consider build
ing on both sides of Pennsylvania
avenue, westward from Seventeenth
street, to Rock Greek Valley. Then,
for future growth, Uncle Sam could
look to the area between Constitution
and Pennsylvania avenues, Seven
teenth street and the Potomac River.
This is a tremendous section of the
National Capital, but already it con-
tains the Naval Hospital, for which
the naval physicians and other au-
thorities say there is an urgent need
for a new building to escape the pres
ent fretraps. and the Public Health
Service The Pan American Union
has congressional authorization to use
the triangle bounded by Eighteenth
street, Virginia avenue and Nine
teenth street, for erection of its new
administration building, which is to
cost over half million dollars. The
Fine Arts Commission is favorable to
having the Pan American Union ear
mark for future expansion the trl-
angle Just north of the projected ad-
ministration building, now occupied by
the Headquarters Company Of the
18th Brigade.
The Fine Arts Commission is anx-
ious to have the new buildings erected
along Constitution avenue, west of
Eighteenth street, in harmony with
the Lincoln Memorial alE forming
an appropriate frame" for it.
Consistency Is Urged.
Surveying the situation as it now
stands. Mr.. Caemmerer said yeSter-
day: ANY buildings that are built for
the Federal Government ought to be
consistent as to design and material
in keeping with the best architectural
tradition of the National Capital, as
established by George Washington and
Thomas jefferson, in selecting the
classical style of architecture for the
Capitol and White House and as ad-
hered to by Andrew Jackson in the
construction of the Treasury Depart
ment Building and the old Patent
Office Building, which began in his
administration, and as further recon-
mended by the Mcmillan Park Com
mission of 1901 and in the public
buildings program, which was insti-
tuted by President Coolidge in 1925
The Commission of Fine Arts was
called upon to advise as to the de-
sign of the public buildings erected in
Washington in the past 10 years. 1t
was the largest public building pro-
gram ever undertaken by any gov
eminent, past or present. 1t also in
cluded several other great projects,
such as construction of the Arlington
Memorial Bridge, completion Of Union
Station Plaza and the Mount Vernon
Memorial Highway.
THE National Capital is rapidly
growing to become a city of 100000
inhabitants. And the beauty and
dignity of the National Capital should
be maintained in keeping with the
greatness of our country, as the lead
ing Nation in the world" declared
Mr.. Caemmerer.
John Nolen, jr., director Of planning
of the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, looking ahead
said that his organization is giving
detailed study to the problem of fu-
ture space for the central govern
ment. He does not favor placing Gov
ernment buildings on both sides OF
Pennsylvania avenue, west OF Seven
teenth street, believing that this traf-
f1c artery should not be thus further
congested. Mr.. Nolen thinks that
any future Government buildings
should be grouped at one side of a
traffic artery, such was done in
the downtown Triangle plan, hanked
by Constitution and Pennsylvania
avenues.
Model May Be Made.
The Planning Commission is giving
the whole project close scrutiny. SO
that it may recommend suitable plans
1t is considered likely that a model
may be made, showing what future
buildings should go in the projected
northwest triangle.
Other Government officials, who are
keeping a close eye on Developments,
say that the Apex Building, scheduled
for the tip of the triangle, may never
be built. The area allotted originally
to that building, east of Seventh
street will result in too small build
ing. compared to the cost of erecting
it, say they. The Federal Trade Com
mission was one of the units-to-
gether with the Fine Arts Commission
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission and the now defunct
Office of Public Buildings and Public
Parks-that was slated to oe quar-
tered in the Apex Building. Under
the stimulus of the new deal, with
the added weight of the securities act
superimposed, the Apex Building
would not accommodate the Federal
Trade Commission, now say those