Evening star., 1937-01-22
PRESIDENT CITES
URGENT NEED Of
AUDITORIUM HERE
Suggests AdvisabiIity of New
Ten-Year Public Building
Program.
QUESTION OF FUNDS
WEIGHED AGAINST ARMY
Bill for Congressional Study of
Proposed Hall introduced
by Senator Robinson.

Declaring Washington has urgent
need Of a large auditorium, President
Roosevelt today suggested the advis-
ability of formulating a new 10-year
public building program for the Cap
ital.
The auditorium proposal was given
strong additional impetus shortly after
the Presidents statement when Ma
jority Leader Robinson introduced in
the Senate a bill setting up a COM
mission to study desirable sites and
make recommendations on the cost of
the project during the present session
of Congress.
The bill, which would create the
Capital Auditorium Commission, was
referred to the Senate Public Build
ings and Grounds Committee, headed
by Senator Connally, Democrat, of
Texas.
Asked at his press conference If the
events of Inauguration day had i'm
pressed him with the need for large
hall in which the ceremonies could be
held in case of inclement weather,
the President said Washington needs
such an auditorium, not only Tor In
auguration purposes, but also for other
large gatherings. He said administra-
ton officials have been weighing an
auditorium project against the build
ing needs of the War Department and
it appeared that the Arny's problem
was a little more urgent.
Question of Funds.
If money enough could be found for
both undertakings, he said, the audi
torium would be erected, as well as
the War Department structure.
In stressing the need for great ma
tional assembly hall here, Mr.. Roose-
welt recalled the Third World Power
Conference banquet, held in the con-
course of Union Station some months
ago because of the lack of other IA
cilities.
He told the reporters he has talked
about the lack of an auditorium with
his advisers and that he thought it
would be very desirable"
It boils down, he said, to question
| of what comes flrst-the auditorium
or the War Department. He pointed
| out that the Army is now housed in
% different buildings, most Of them
rented, and remarked it was probably
more important to provide quarters
first.
Program Under Study.
A plan is being worked out for con-
sideration by the Appropriation Com
mittees of Congress, he said, looking
toward a long-view public building
program for Washington to be worked
on a 10-year step-by-step basis. This
new building program, he explained,
would be somewhat similar to the
triangle building program. which has
resulted in the magnificent buildings
along Pennsylvania and Constitution
avenues.
The President is seeking a way Of
financing immediate building projects
with public works funds.
In response to a question, Mr..
Roosevelt said the Jefferson memorial
project is in a different category, in
charge of joint committee of Con-
gress. This group, he added. Is hard
at work on the memorial plan at the
present time.
Secretary Ickes proposed yesterday
that the Jefferson memorial take the
form of large auditorium.
Confers With O'Connor.
In introducing his bill today, Sen
ator Robinson revealed that he and
Chairman O'Connor of the House
Rules Committee discussed the subject
during the inaugural ceremonies We'd
nesday, when rain was drenching the
assembled crowds. He decided at that
time steps should be taken to provide
the city With an adequate auditorium
for large public gatherings.
Secretary Ickes would be member
Of the commission under Robinson's
bill. The other members would be the
chairman of the House and Senate
Public Buildings and Grounds Com
mittees. These chairmanships are
held by Senator Connally and Repre-
sentative Lanham, Democrat, Of Texas.
Senator Capper. Republican, of Kan
sas Joined today in support of the
auditorium proposal. With the in
auguration date changed to January
20, weather conditions for outdoor
ceremonies will always be uncertain at
that time of year, the Kansan said.
Discussing his bill, Senator Robin
son said:
For many years the need of a
commodious auditorium in Washing
ton has been apparent. Many conven-
tions assembled here, and it Is desir-
able that sufficient space be provided
lsee AUDITORIUM, Page A-3.l