Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-08-03
PENSION BUILDING
REM0DEL|NG PLAN
DECLARED ERROR
S4,700,000 Proposed Job
Held Delay in D. c.
Identification.
COURT STRUCTURE SEEN
BLOCKED FOR 100 YEARS
100000 for Capital Parks Pur'
chase Applauded as
Proper Step.


100000 by Congress to remodel the
old Pension Office Building, now nous
ing the General Accounting ONCE Is
viewed as mistake by authorities
charged with the Identification OF
Washington. They say it will delay
for perhaps a century the planned
erection of a new District Supreme
Court building on that site.
The officials are gratifled, however
over prospects of having 100000 ap-
propriated for the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission with
which to purchase lands for play
grounds and recreation centerS.
Now pending in Congress in the de-
ficiency bill is a plan to authorize the
appropriation of $4,000 for remod-
cling the old Pension Office Building,
located in Judiciary Square, by adding
wings to the structure. Some $1,000
900 of this would be Immediately
available for starting work.
Commission Opposed Move.
Some months ago the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion went on record as being opposed
to remodeling of the old Pension
Office More than year ago officials
recalled today when the proposal to
remodel was being talked Of, the COM
mission asked the Procurement Divi-
sion of the Treasury Department,
slated to DO the work, to revise the
plans
The act of May 6, 1885, authorizes
the District government TO erect court
buildings in Judiciary Square. In
view of this, the Planning Commission
felt it would be out of harmony to
have a big Office building in Judiciary
Square. north of the small court
buildings.
Some time in the future-say 25 to
SO years hence-the Planning Com
mission envisioned a new District Su-
preme Court building on the site Of
the present General Accounting Office
There was no tangible plan now to
tear down this building. but in keep
ing with its practice the Planning
Commission was reserving this space
for longtime project,
Remodeling of Controller General
McCall's official home will interfere
with future erection of a new District
Supreme Court building, in the opin-
ion of the officials. Now that the
Government is to spend S4,700,000 in
remodeling the Pension Office Build
ing it is not considered likely that
the Federal Government will relin-
quish the structure for a hundred
years to come.
Lack Of Harmony Feared.
The new court buildings are low,
two-Story structures in the Federal
type of architecture. They will be
entirely out of harmony with the Gen.
eral Accounting Office as it now stands,
to say nothing of the remodeling,
which will add wings to the present
huge building, it is pointed out.
officials declared it will be difficult
to extend F street through that Sec
ton Of Judiciary Square, between the
remodeled Pension Office Building and
the new court buildings. Now de-
signed for Judiciary Square are the
new Municipal. Juvenile and Police
Court buildings, as well as the new
home for the recorder of deeds.
Information today was that the
conferees will render their report of the
deficiency appropriation bill on Mon
day. 1t is understood the House con-
: ferees have accepted the Senate pro-
posal to appropriate 100000 for the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission. This Is made possible
under the Capper-Cramton park pur-
chase act, under which the District
will pay back this money to the Fed
eral Government
John Nolen, jr., director of plan
ming of the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, said this
money, when appropriated, will be
utilized to complete playground and
recreation center projects that are
on an average of 80 per cent COM
pleted. He made it clear no new
projects will be started with this
fund.
List Of Projects Withheld.
While declining to reveal a list of
the projects on which the money
would be spent, Nolen described it as
a "well-balanced program, giving new
facilities all over the CITY,"
The urgency for this money, Nolen
said. is due to a number of the in
complete projects being endangered
by real estate developments. If the
Government is not going to buy the
land adjacent to some of these play
grounds and recreational centers
private builders want to construct
homes in those areas.
Due to the lack of money for the
commissions land-purchasing pro.
gram during the depression years
plans have been slowed up for three OF
four years. This, Mr.. Nolen explained
means that already plans will have tt
be revised for some Of the playground!
already started. Land, upon which
the Government had an eye for pur.
2 chase, has already been built upon anc
Uncle Sam has no intention of buyins
new homes to tear them down fol
playground areas.
News that the commission expect.
to have 100000 for land purchase ha!
already brought a number of inquire.
to its headquarters. People that owl
land within the known taking line,
for Fairgrounds and recreation cen
tiers have descended upon the com
mission, urging that their parcels b,
bought now. This swarm of extra in