Evening star., 1934-12-10
|CKES MAY URGE
NEW j. s. BUILDING
PROGRAM FOR D. c.
Possibility of Request Is In
dicated in Park Ser
ice Report.
NORTHWEST RECTANGLE
BELIEVED "NExT STEP"
Camerer Scores Congestion and
Cites Continued High Cost
of Renting.

The possibility Of Secretary Ickes
recommending to Congress or the
Public Works Board a new public
building program for Washington was
forecast today in the annual report OF
the National Park Service, which was
included in the yearly report of the
Secretary of the Interior and was ap-
proved by him.
The Division of Government Space
Control, directly under the Secretary
and Director Arno B. Camerer, de-
clared there was "a justifiable demand
for additional buildings for depart
ments not yet adequately housed" and
suggested that the time was appro-
pirate for the National Park Service
Ito formulate plans for the next step
in the general public buildings pro-
gram for Washington. and make the
appropriate recommendations to Con-
gress."
Rectangle Plans Studied.
This "next step" which is urged was
believed to be the proposed Northwest
rectangle, bounded by Eighteenth
street, Constitution avenue, E street
and the Potomac River. The new
s1l 000, 900 Interior Department Build
ing is to be erected within this area
and plans for the development Of the
rectangle are being studied by the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission.
Scoring congested conditions In the
Government departments, the report
declared the lack of relief afforded by
the erection of several Government
buildings and the continued high cost
of renting other buildings ''justifies the
launching of a new building program.
The Division Of Government space
Control is a new function Of the Ma
tional Park Service and one which has
had the close attention of Secretary
Ickes during the past year. On re-
peated occasions he has complained OF
the Governments annual rent bill. q
problem which the administration has
been unable to solve, due to the crea-
ton of new bureaus and the hiring OF
thousands Of emergency employees 70
fill them.
without going into particulars, the
report declared: IF the Federal rent
bill maintains its present level build
ing containing a million square feet
of floor space, almost equal in size to
the Department of Commerce Build
ing. could be paid for in II years.
Such a building would accommodate
practically all Federal Offices now IN
rented quarters and would be perma-
nent investment of the Government.
Program Inadequate.
Secretary Ickes has long realized
that the Federal building program
along Pennsylvania avenue is made
ouate for the maximum needs OF the
.. Government. The report stresses this
fact in citing the amount of space
allotments during the past year, an
activity compelling 201 moves. cost
ing s75,800.
During the past year." 1t cites.
"ll9 leases, involving nearly $780,
| 600, have been made, authorized or
renewed. The space allotments for
the new Post Office, Interstate Com
merce Commission, Justice and Labor
Buildings have been planned" With
the exception of the Labor Depart
ment space these buildings are now
occupied
Despite the fact that these monu-
mental buildings are occupied, the
ta1x
improperly housed" the report re-
minds.
At the close of the fiscal year, June
80 last, SO buildings, aggregating more
than 10000 square feet, and seven
memorials in the District of Columbia
were being maintained and operated
by the buildings branch of the Ma
tional Park Service, Director Cam
erer's report stated. Outside the Dis-
trict, nine buildings with total flocr
space of over 100000 square feet wei,
being maintained and operated.
Cites Work Accomplished.
Regular work. supplemented by
civil works and public works projects
and other special jobs incident to the
proper maintenance, operation and
protection of buildings and memorials
without the District of Columbia, was
performed" the report added. "The
creation on emergency governmental
activities and the relocation Of num-
ber of bureaus caused large amount
of interior alterations, such as in
stallation of partitions, buzzer systems.
special laboratory equipment and
painting.
Forty public works projects, IN
volving allotments totaling little
more than $2,000,0 900, were under
taken. These improvements included
repair of the White House and Wash-
ington Monument, restoration work on
the Arlington House in Arlington
Cemetery, and extension installations
Of air-cooling and automatic sprin-
king systems in large Federal build
ings."
Plans for the Northwest Rectangle,
it was believed, may be whipped into
shape in time to permit the formula
ton Of recommendations soon after
Congress meets.
In addition to the new Interior
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