Evening star., 1937-01-29
AUDITORIUM BILL
SPEEDED TOWARD
VOTE NEXT WEEK
Measure Setting Up Com
mission Goes on Senate
Calendar Today.
COST AND FINANCING
STUDY IS FIRST STEP
Quick Action in House Also Ex.
pected-Needs for Other Than
Inaugural Gatherings Stressed.

Moving steadily forward on its leg
islative journey, the Robinson bill to
pave the way for an auditorium in
keeping with the requirements Of the
Nations Capital will be placed on the
Senate calendar today and probably
will pass Monday or Tuesday.
There have been no signs Of opposi-
ton to the measure thus far, but un-
der ordinary Senate procedure bills
are not taken up the day they are
reported, except to meet emergencies.
Senator Connally. Democrat, Of
Texas was to file in the Senate at
noon the favorable report given the
bill by his Public Buildings and
Grounds Committee yesterday, and a
request could be made for unanimous
consent to take it up Immediately.
It is probable. however, that the meas
ure will 60 over until Monday II the
Senate is in recess Saturday.
Creates Study Commission.
The bill sets up an Auditorium Com
mission composed Of the chairmen Of
the Senate and House Committees on
Public Buildings and Grounds and
Secretary Of Interior Ickes. The COM
mission Is directed to make survey
and then report back to this session
of Congress the approximate cost Of
q suitable structure, including rec
concentrations as to sites. An amend
rnent made in committee yesterday
further directs the commission to rec
ommend how the cost shall be borne
and how the auditorium, when con-
structed, shall be controlled and SUI
pervised.
Prompt consideration is expected to
be given the bill in the House after
the Senate acts. Among those who
took part in the Senate hearing yes
terday was Representative Lanham Of
Texas. chairman Of the House Com
mittee on Public Buildings and
Grounds, who declared: II am heartily
in sympathy with the idea" Another
House member, Representative Bloom
of New York, who has been advocat-
ing an auditorium here for several
years, also took part In yesterdays
proceedings.
Memorial Provision Raises Question.
Although there are divergent views
at the Capitol on the advisability of
having the auditorium built as the
proposed memorial to Thomas Jeffer.
son, there is no dispute over the need
of an auditorium. Those who feel
the Jefferson Memorial should be a
shrine on a plane with the Washing
ton Monument and Lincoln Memorial
also believe the National Capital
should have an auditorium that would
accommodate an inaugural ceremony
or any other important gathering. In
fact, it was the heavy rain during
the outdoor inaugural exercises on
January 20 that brought 50 forceably
to the minds Of members of Congress
the lack Of public assembly hall here
adequate to serve as the scene Of
historic events and large conventions.
There are many questions to be
considered by the proposed commits
sion when it gets down to detail plans,
such as whether to design a structure
that would house big athletic events
as well as conventions and national
ceremonies.
During the hearing Senator Walsh,
Democrat, Of Massachusetts, also point
ed to Washington's lack of an armory,
leaving no place suitable for the Ma.
tional Guard to drill.
While the pending bill would have
to be followed by definite legislation
after the commission files its recon-
mendation, passage Of this measure
will bring the auditorium project
nearer to realization than ever before.