Evening star., 1937-04-10


Announcement Of the program, made
yesterday by Commissioner Haxen
as he emerged from a White House
conference with Marvin H. Mcintyre.
4 presidential secretary, came in the
form OF sharp surprise.
Many Projects Included.
Included in the program, Hazen
said, would be such projects as the
kng-delayed Municipal Center, the
group Of court buildings, additions TO
the District penal institutions, school
buildings and other emergency needs
for which P. w. A. funds In some in.
stances had been sought in previous
years and congressional approval in
others.
Hazen emphasized the point, how
ever, that the Commissioners are
proposing the building program on
the basis Of yearly Federal sums to
defray an equitable share OF the
cost.
I'VE ought to have monumental
buildings, the finest possible, in keep
ing with the requirements of the
National Capital" he said. THE Fed
eral Government ought to contribute
q proportionate burden of the cost.
The District could not do it alone,
Of course"
What the proportion Of cost would
be for the Government, naturally,
is one Of the most important hinges
on which the whole program would
swing and matter that may require
long and careful consideration. Hazen
did not say yesterday what he re-
garded as an equitable ratio.
Although the District needs only
$4,000, 900 from the proposed new tax
increase program, he pointed out that
If Congress insisted on approving the
Collins bills in their entirety, the ad-
ditional $4,000, 900 that would be OBJ
tanned therefrom might be used TO
start the building program.
Approval First Requirement.
But legislative approval of the FIVE
year plan must be obtained first be-
fore anything else can be done"
Hazen said. I'VE are going to start
on that right away, press for ap-
|
He explained that the Commits
sioners proposed to go about it as
they do in the case Of the hye-year
school program. That contemplates
for the coming fiscal year an appropri-
alton of s3o,oo0,oOO at the rate of
100000 year.
Hazen left the plan in the form
OF memorandum for the President,
With Corporation Counsel Elwood H.
Seal, he had been called a second
time to the White House for a con-
ference on District matters.
He did not get to see President
Roosevelt when he called the second
time, late in the afternoon. Neither
he nor Col. Mcintyre divulged any OF
the matters that were discussed. The
latter explained merely that they were
some minor details" concerning the
District.
Presidents Attitude Undisclosed.
No intimation was given by McIn-
tyre as to the probable attitude the
President would assume on the huge
building program for the District,
which dwarfs any prior proposal that
has been made.
Hazen said, however, that II, and
when, legislative approval Is obtained,
the Commissioners would submit a
priority list for each Of the five years
| covering the essential building needs
of the District.
The $75,000,000 cost, he said, had
been arrived at as result of rough
estimate" prepared by various oficials
Of the District government.
Embodied In the whole program, he
said, were such projects rs the Munic-
ipal Center, Juvenile Court building,
building for the recorder of deeds,
new District Jail, additional build
ings for the Lorton, Va, work house
and reformatory; the proposed Penn
sylvania avenue bridge across the An
acostia River, estimated at 81, ,000, 900;
six Health Department centers ut
$3.50, 600 each; public school buildings,
branch libraries, Fairgrounds and 3
general highway widening program.
He cid not 60 into further details
at the time, but said that plans will
have to be considered and worked
out. 1T will take time, long time
perhaps" Hazen explained.
The task Of drawing up and intro
ducing the required legislative sp-
provsl act, he indicated, was an imme-
diate one for the Commissioners.
The District government some time
ago acquired title to the land in the
vicinity Of Judiciary Square for tna
proposed Municipal Center out Of
| 5000 900 surplus fund.
Immediate and detailed informa-
ton Is available In the five-year school
program, from 1887 to 1942, drawn
up by the superintendent Of schools.
Hazen did not explain, however, the
relation Of this school program in con.
nection with the general building plan