Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-11-15
MILITIA OFFERED
A|DFOR ARMORy
Suggestion Made Project
Be Combined With Audi.
forum Plan.

Al tllc uiONcuiCht W VUtdlu duCqudtc
armory facilities here for the National
Guard Of the District Of Columbia to
receive its training, the militia off,
cials have received during the week
offers Of support from various civic
groups. Some of these suggest that
the plan for an armory be combined
with a project to obtain an auditorium
here suitable for use in handling large
conventions. 1t was pointed out that
this is one of the greatest needs of
the District, and that by joining forces
on a combined armory and auditorium
that some Roadway might be obtained
on a project which has been confront
ing the citizen-soldier officials for more
than a quarter of century.
While the local officers working for
better training facilities would rather
have building devoted solely to the
training activities of the militia, they
nevertheless are giving serious con-
sideration to the combined project in
the hope that that might be an answer
to their efforts to obtain funds to
adequately house the local troops.
However, the suggestion has been
made that il the combined project is
decided upon it should be in the down.
town area, whereas the project for the
Guard was proposed on the banks of
the Anacostia River at the eastern
terminus. 1t was pointed out that it
would be difficult and even very ex-
pensive to find site. On the other
hand it was pointed out that a site.
such as has been proposed by the
Guard, would not prove any disadvan-
tage because Of the use Of the automo-
bile in transportation, and further
more, it was added, that parking facili-
ties for large numbers of cars could
be provided better on such a site than
would be possible in any site that
might be selected in the downtown
area.
Col. John w. Oehmann, command
ing the local Guard, had conferences
during the week with representative
of the committee which is making the
fiscal relations study with the Dis
trict. II was said that the Guard
commander pointed out the status Of
the local troops as a federalized unit,
and the difficulties it had because of
this in getting any united support
funds with which to inaugurate the
armory project. 1t was pointed out
that in the States which we're granted
public works funds with which to
construct armories, the States con-
tributed funds. But that here the
same agency which would provide
funds for the grants also would have
TO provide specifically for the money
to share the grant. In other words,
Congress provides the public works
funds. In order for the District to
accept a part grant for an armory,
Congress would specifically have to
appropriate the money. The machin-
cry has proved so cumbersome from
the Guard standpoint that they are
just where they were a quarter of
century ago, while many OF the
States have seized the opportunity to
get Federal funds for armories and
have gone ahead and built fine build
ings which will prove adequate for
their troop training for many years to
come.
While the District officials have not
yet received any indication of what
aid will be given them by the Ma
tional Guard Association of the United
States. which recently directed its
ofncials to give assistance to the
Guard. they nevertheless look for def
mite aid and support when a program
is mapped out. So far no bill has
been prepared for presentation to Con-
gress. and one will not be prepared
until some indication has been re-
ceived as to what, If any, action will
be taken by the Fiscal Relations Com
mittee. At the conferences this week
it was said that the committee con-
fierce did not indicate any stand on
the matter, but was merely seeking
information to report to the whole
committee.
rs . lCSulb VI Vic SOAl1clcACco IL ID
expected that by the time Congress
convenes that Col. Oehmann and his
aides will have formulated definite
program which will be written into
the form Of bill for presentation to
Congress. When this Is done the mat
ter will be brought again directly to
the attention of the officials Of the
~ -
United States, and 1t is expected that
the political aid of that organization
will be thrown behind the measure.