Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-10-18

The other day at Poughkeepsie. Presi-
dent Roosevelt officiated at the laying of
the corner stone of a new post Office
building, and in the course of his re-
marks he said:
"All over the United States there are
scattered the most terrible monStrosities
of architecture. perpetrated by the gov
eminent on the people of the United
States. To be sure, many of them we're
built during an unfortunate period of
art, but in these latter years we think that
we have returned to the simpler forms.
returned to practical architecture, which
at the same time has beauty
The city of Washington has more Gov
eminent buildings, of course, than any
other American city, and it has-almost
in consequence-more of the mon
strosities of architecture" of which the
President spoke, of which it hopes even
tually to be relieved. Not until the past
twenty years has there been a systematic
course of careful, artistic designing, and
as result for long period there were
SpaSmodic outbursts of eccentric archi-
lecture, more or less makeshift design
ing and lack of system in the planning
of the physical Capital.
Three of these examples of inartistic
planning remain. awaiting removal or
reconstruction. The oldest of them, the
State, War and Navy building, was re-
garded by many at the time of its erec-
ton as an elegant" type of public
sidered to have been a mistake. out of
keeping with the general plan of struc-
ture and in sorry contrast with its neigh
bors, the White House and the Treasury.
A design for its reconstruction was
adopted some years ago, but its execution
has been deferred on the score of
economy. 1t must eventually be remod-
eled. if it is not to stand forever as
reproach to public taste.
The second of these three was built
somewhat in a hurry, to accommodate
the Pension Office, huge pile of red
brick, furiously at variance with all other
public constructions. 1t was once said
of it by congressional critic that its
only merit. that of being fireproof, was
its worst defect. 1t, too, has been con-
sidered for reconstruction. to give it at
least an outward resemblance to and
conformity with the general design of
public construction. but the execution of
the plans to that end has been deferred
likewise for reasons of economy.
The third of this trio of "monstrosities"
is the former Est Office Department
building, on Pennsylvania Avenue.
gloomy, jail-like design, with turrets and
tower that clash with the sky line as
established by the later, Systematically
planned buildings of the Mall-Avenue
triangle. 1t was supposed to have been
the result of veritable inspiration" on
the part of the then chief architect of
the Treasury, a great gift of art to the
Capital, though it was later found to be
one of group of almost Identical designs
inflicted at the same time upon several
other cities. Its eventual destruction and
replacement by structure in harmony
with its neighbors-indeed as an extern
sion of one of those neighbors which now
TANKS it on three Sides-is contemplated,
is, in fact, on the program for execution.
When these three "monstrosities
give them the Presidents term of re-
proach-have been removed or remodeled
or camouhaged Washington will be prac-
tically free of criticism in the matter
of Government architecture and the
generation witnessing the change will
rejoice.