Evening star., 1938-06-26
.CONNA[LYP[ANS
T0PUSH B|LLF0
D. c. AUDITORIUM
Bill for Remode|Iing Of
Capitol Front Also to
Be Reintr0duCed.
SPEED is FORESEEN
IN SENATE ACTION
Upper Branch Already Has
Approved Plan to Extend
Center Of Building.
BY J. A. O'LEARY.

Undiscouraged by failure of the re-
cent session to provide for q National
Capital auditorium and for the re-
modelling of the east front Of the
Capitol Building, Chairman Connally
Of the Senate Public Buildings and
Grounds Committee will push for ac-
ton on both proposals when Congress
reconvenes.
In announcing this intention before
leaving for his home in Texas. the
Senator voiced hope the next Con-
gress will complete these two measures.
The Senate, early in 1887. passed
the bill for the extension of the orig
inal central portion of the Capitol
eastward, an improvement under con-
sideration from time to time since the
close of the Civil War. The measure
encountered opposition in the House,
however. and was not reported from
committee.
The auditorium bill was reported
favorably from the Senate Committee,
but the session was drawing to a close
and it was not acted upon in either
branch.
Must Be introduced.
Unless there is a special session of
the old Congress in the fall. which
is not in sight now, both bills will have
to be reintroduced and considered
again in committee in the new Con-
gress. The Senate committee, how
ever, having already gone thoroughly
into the two proposals. probably will
act on them promptly.
The auditorium bill seeks to meet a
long-feit need for a structure, ade-
quate in size and design,~to accommo-
Date the important national and inter-
national events that take place from
time to time at the seat of govern
ment. While agitation for such a
building has extended over many
years, the heavy rain that drenched
thousands of visitors at the outdoor
second inaugural Of President Roose-
welt in January 1897. was the mo-
tivating force that produced the pend
ing bill.
Some opposition to the bill devel-
oped on the ground that the Federal
Government should not pay the con-
struction cost of 100000. The au-
ditorium, however, is to be essentially
national structure and upon COM
pletion would be under the supervision
OF Federal agencies. The District gov
ernment has agreed to contribute the
site, the square between Constitution
avenue, c street. Third street and
John Marshall place NV, which cost
the city $l,7o0,00O.
Architect Favored Plan.
The proposed changes in the Cap-
itol Building have been the subject
OF debate since 1853. when the House
and Senate wings were added and the
present dome was approaching COM
pletion. Supporters of the bill stress
the point that Thomas U. Walter, who
was architect of the Capitol when the
wings and dome were added, felt that
the building would not be completed
architecturally until the east front of
the original section of the building
was extended some distance outward
and recommended it be done later.
Opponents of the program have
argued that the passing years have
given the structure. as it stands, an
historic value that should not be dis
turbed.
Advocates of the bill contend It
would give a finished effect to the
building as a whole. which was erected
In units at widely different periods of
time. The purposes of the plan are
to give the dome a more balanced
appearance. to reface the sandstone
central portion with marble to corre-
spond to the wings. to open a corridor
connecting the House and Senate
wings on the gallery floor. and to pro-
vide additional committe rooms in
the central section. The exact num-
Der of feet of wall extension would
be determined by the commission in
charge of the work.