Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-10-11
Decade in Capital Shows Designs of Nation

ouate Government buildings here and
advocating that $4,000, 900 be ap-
propriated annually in five-year
construction program. The measure
was introduced in the Senate by
Senator Smoot, Republican, of Utah.
But the bill languished and died with
the falling gavels that sounded the
death knell OF that Congress.
Then, when Congress convened
again, Mr.. Elliott introduced a meas
ure providing that $4,000. 900 be ex-
pended for buildings in the District
over five years and also that an
omnibus building program throughout
the country be authorized for $780,
600 900. This bill required that the
Secretary of the Treasury and the
Postmas ter General should recon-
mend the necessary buildings to be
erected. A prominent New York
newspaper described this piece OF
legislation as 1.-The only sensible build
ing bill introduced in so years"
Secretary of the Treasury Andrew
w. Mellon conferred with Mr.. Elliott
and the cabinet officer promised to
take the public buildings measure
up with the President. Three weeks
later Mr.. Elliott received a letter
notifying him that the program did
not conflict with the Presidents
fiscal policy. The bill was steered
through the House committee after
a battle royal and then was placed
on the House calendar.
Then came the poser as to the
best way to get the measure through
the House. Mr.. Elliott took the
newspaper men into his confidence
and the news of the gigantic building
program for the Nation was head
lined from coast to coast. Uncc.
suspension of the rules, which barred
all amendments and limited debate
to 40 minutes, the measure was
passed in the House. But 1t re-
manned on the Senate side Of the
Capitol until Congress adjourned
and died.
With the coming Of new Con-
gress, Representative Elliott again in
troduced the bill. Under suspension
of the rules, 1t was taken up once
more, in due course. Again the House
passed 1t and forwarded it to the
Senate.
Interested in the project now was
Senator, Fernald, Republican, of
Maine, chairman of the Senate Com
mittee on Public Buildings and
Grounds. He fought for the meas
ure in the Senate, secured its passage,
and President Coolidge signed it. This
established the Triangle.
The power to take in property for
Government purposes in the Triangle
and elsewhere was liberalized in an
other measure Mr.. Elliott introduced,
adding another great slice of money
for Washington's development, and
Senator Reyes, Republican, of New
Hampshire pushed it in the Senate.
Upon the Nations statute books
stands the Keyes- Elliott act,
which even now-with the Triangle
building practically onstructed-pro-
vides for future expansion of Gov
eminent buildings here through land
purchases. Under its authority, Sec
rotary Ickes recently purchased the
Potomac Park Apartments for the
Public Works Administration. The
Cosmos Club. the Belasco Theater and
land in Southwest Washington, au-
thorized for purchase under this far
reaching measure, still remain in
private hands.
Many other measures were adopted
by Congress, giving legal vitality in
recent years to Washinstn's develop
ment. The bill to authorize the en-
larsement Of the Capitol Grounds had