Evening star., 1934-01-05
CONGRESS TO GET
PLANS TO EXTEND
FRONT Of CAPITOL
Two Proposals to Complete
Eastern Portion Ready
for Submission.
ARCHNECT PREPARES
ESTIMATES OF COST
House and Senate Committees Will
Consider Reform Suggested
in 1854.
BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.


is about to submit to Congress two
plans for extension of the east front
to complete the classic shelter of the
legislative branch of the Government
on Capitol Hill.
Both proposals for the reconstruction
work, originally recommended 80 years
ago, will be considered by the Senate
and House Committees on Public Build
ings and Grounds, the chairmen of
which are Senator Connally and Rep
resentative Lanham, both of Texas.
Mr.. Lynn is preparing estimates on
each plan and will offer both for the
committees study.
The first plan is known as Scheme
A." the second as Scheme B." Each
is an attempt to correct the present
architectural inexactitude Of the east
ern portion of the building. whereby
the dome appears to rest partly on the
portico.
Change Urged in 1864.
The change was advocated as far
back as November l, 1854, when one
of Mr.. Lynn's predecessors, Thomas U.
Walter, reported to Congress:
Now that the new dome and the
wings of the Capitol are approaching
completion. it must be apparent to
every one that the extension of the
center building. on the east. to the line
of the new wings becomes an archi-
tectural necessity"
However, nothing was done until 1904,
when a joint congressional commission
| for the extension and completion OF the
Capitol engaged Carrere & Hastings,
New York architects. to review the
entire problem. After finishing their
and Scheme B" which Mr.. Lynn now
is reviving.
Under the first proposal, the whole
front of the central part of the facade
would be extended only so far as
necessary to bring the main wall of
the building, at the center, under the
extreme projection of the dome, and
give the dome the apparent support
which 1t should have" One column
would be added on each side of the
main pediment.
I'm this scheme" Carrere and Hast
ings said, mo consideration has been
given to increased space within the
building. and the problem has been
solved strictly according to the archi-
tectural necessities of the case: never
theless, the moving of the wall easterly,
II feet 10 inches, gives on the main
floor to the east of Statuary Hall. a
series of alcoveS which can be used to
advantage for the additional storage OF
documents; and, to the east OF the
Supreme Court, similar series of al
coves, back of the present screen, for
retiring or robing rooms for the judges.
Similar alcoves would also be ob-
tanned, In both cases. on the floor above,
which could be reached from the CEN
tral portion of the building and used
for various purposes. These changes
would in no way affect any of the
internal arrangements or even the
decorations on the main floor.
In the basement. this additional
projection (would) add to the size OF
| proving them, especially in the case OF
| the law library under the Supreme
Court.
I'm the central section of the build
| ing two spacious rooms twould be- OBJ
| tanned on either side of the main en-
! trance, with windows opening on to
! the portico, giving IL additional rooms
for committee or other purposes. those
on the first and second floors being
we'll lighted and all very accessible"
Under the second proposal "the CEN
trail portion would be- projected 30
feet inches, easterly from the walls OF
the Supreme Court and Statuary Hall
adding to the building IA spacious and
well-lighted rooms on each floor, Z
| on each side of the main entrance
These rooms would be- approached by
a corridor of ample width connecting
with both the Senate and House wings
the rotunda and other important cir.
/ culations of the building"
| OF Il.
able as connecting links between tht
existing front and the new facade.
Scheme B" Commended.
From the practical point of view,
Carrere and Hastings declared with ref.
erence to scheme b. this plan COM
mends itself to us very highly, as il
provides ample and well lighted addi'
tional space without disturbing the
present internal arrangements OF the
building or its decorations. 1t estab-
fishes. besides, new and important
circulation between the two wings, Serv'
ing the different new committee rooms
It produces more interesting and sat.
isfactory facade than could be obtained
under the recommendation made by Mr.
Walter in his report of 1864. 1t woule
be simpler and more dignif1ed, anc
would preserve the breadth and monu
mental character Of the easterl!
facade"
Mr.. Lynn explained that the materia
used in the work should be white mar
BILE. The alteration, he insisted, woule
not injure the view of the building from
the East, to which people have become
accustomed. On the contrary, it woule
enhance the beauty of the entire east
erly aspect of the Capitol.
Senator Keyes of New Hampshire ha'
said he will introduce bill to cover TIT
expense involved, and Representative
Montague of Virginia long an advocate
of the change, has pledged similar
action.