The Washington times., 1937-01-23
SEES ) MILLION
NEEDED FOR
BUILDING
CONTINUED from Page II

would make it possible to hold a
formal dance in one section and
4 Sledge-hammer contest in an
other.
THE auditorium should be
built SO that it could be section
lied. Any number of things
could be going on at the same
time"
Senator McCarran said there is
a definite need for large meeting
place in the National Capital, as
Washington is favored conven-
ton city" There is no place IN
the city. he said, where a large
group of people can meet comfort
ably.
Place For Athletics
He would also have the auditor
ium q place for athletic events and
built with a proper system OF am
plifiers for convention purposes.
One section of the auditorium, he
added, could be a sort OF Hyde
Park" for people who want to make
speeches.
The auditorium should be a
masterpiece of architecture, Sena-
tor McCarran said, to make suit
able memorial to Thomas Jefter-
son.
House leadership Endorsement
was given today to the proposal
of Senator Joseph T. Robinson
Cd of Arkansas, Senate ma
jority leader, for the construction
of an auditorium.
Speaker William B. Bankhead
CD of Alabama, majority floor
leader; Sam Rayburn Cd OF
Texas and Representative John
O'Connor (DD of New York, chair
man of the Rules Committee ap-
proved the general proposition
that the city should be provided
with an auditorium big enough 1or
inaugurationS and other large
affairs.
Bankhead for Study
Speaker Bankhead said that he
had not studied Robinson's BILL
so could not comment on it, but
added.
81 realize that there is a big
demand and necessity for such
q building as that prOpOsed by
Senator Robinson. The Senator's
propOsal is we'll worthy of the
consideration of Congress-.
ut seems apparent, in view
Of the situation which arose In
auguratiOn day, that there is a
crystalized opinion in favor of
such an auditorium, and l think
Congress should give the matter
sympathetic study"
Representative Rayburn also
said he has not looked into the
Robinson bill, but asserted:
81 am of the opinion that
every great city should have an
assembly place large enough to
accommodate crowds for such
events as the Inauguration.
That is especially true of Wash
ingtOn-the Capital city of the
Nation, where so many import
ant events of this nature take
place. / should be glad to give
the Senator's bill very SYM
pathetic consideration"
Representative O'Connor, in
discussing the matter with Sena-
tor Robinson, agreed that an audi
torlum is very necessary here,
pointing out that the inaugura-
tion was a typical example of
what the lack of such facilities
In the Capital City would bring
about.
Senator Thomas Idea
Senator Ebert D. Thomas CD
Of Utah, a member Of the Thomas
jefferson Memorial Commission,
today urged that the Jeffersonian
commemorative structure be the
key building in a civic center for
the Capital.
Senator Thomas emphasized
that he was not opposed to the
erection of an auditorium as such.
He said washington needed an
auditorium and also needed a
stadium and hospitals as we'll.
He pointed out, however, that
q memorial to the third President
Of the United States should be
essentially national in character
and declared that an auditorium
could not very well accommodate
125,00O,00 persons.
AS described by Sena tor
Thomas, the memorial should be
an artistic, esthetic and eco
nomic" proposition. He said the
civic center surrounding the me-
mortal should be built at the juno
ton OF East Capitol Street and
Anacostia Park and might well
follow the plans already laid out
by the National Capital Parks
Office for an armory, parade
grounds, auditorium, stadium,
natatorium and tennis arena in
that area.
Soon in Conference
The memorial commission Is
expected to be called into con-
ference within a week by its
chairman, Representative John j.
Boylan CD of New York.
Representative Sol Bloom CD,
Of New York, who probably has
had more experience in construct
ing buildings to house large
gatherings than any other man in
Congress, today revealed. his con-