Evening star., 1941-07-29
'HdstyAction'
0nWarBui|dinq
Plans Dep|ored
Representative Hull
Loses Fight on Item
In 8 Billion Bill

Department in nearby Arlington
County. Va.
Funds for the project were pro-
vided in the first supplemental ma
tional defense appropriation bill
which the House passed and sent
to the Senate late yesterday with
out a record vote
Even before the House approved
the appropriation, Mr.. Hull made
two unsuccessful attempts to have
the project removed from the meas
ure. He described it as staggering
and astonishing and urged that
more time be allowed for both Con-
gress and the press to study it since
the plan had been advanced sud-
denly.
Raises Three Objections.
Mr.. Hull said he opposed speedy
action for three specific reasons:
/. That the plan for a new War
Department building had no direct
connection with the national defense
program. that it was civil matter"
which should have been given Sc
rious study.
2. That it is "unwise to put that
much money in a building without
approval of constituted Government
planning agencies"
8. That it is foolish" to plan the
erection of such a large Govern
ment building across the Potomac
River in Arlington County without
making provisions for bridges or
other crossings to serve the 10000
employees who ultimately may be
Quartered there.
Representative Hull placed in the
Congressional Record an editorial
in The Evening Star of last Friday
entitled "A Staggering Project"
which he said completely repre-
sented his views on the plans to
erect the new War Department
Building in nearby Virginia.
Favors Study.
"I am 100 per cent in accord with
the views expressed in that edito-
rial" he declared, "but there is one
paragraph which is, especially sig
nifcant. 1t said: -
Surely Congress will not adopt
30 far-reaching and revolutionary a
project without affording the Park
and Planning Commission and other
interested agencies or officials an
opportunity to pass upon the tech
nical, artistic and other aspects of
the undertaking. It may well =. be
that careful studies by~auilding and
planning experts will show that the
proposal is feasible and, in view of
emergency conditions. altogether
desirable. To ignore the advice of
experienced planners, however, would
be a serious mistake that might
bring disastrous complications later" p"
The total amount in the bill is
s8.063,238,478, including s4.760,203.- =
813 for the Army, to equip and
maintain a land force of 1,727,000
men, plus critical items for a 3,000,-
000-man Army.
Increases in Personnel.
The Navy would get 81 500 .374 Cos.
including funds to increase enlisted
strength from 258000 to 369 1000 and
the marine personnel from $4,000 to
$4,000 men.
Two influential House members
Chairman Woodrum of the De-
ficiency Subcommittee of the Appro-
priations Committee and Repre-
sentative Taber of New York, rank
ing minority member of that COM
mittee-took the floor during de-
bate to stress the economy of erect
ing the proposed new War Depart
ment building in Arlington County,
rather than in the District.
Representative Hull, in his at
tack on the plan, expressed the
belief that if it is carried out, far
more than S35 100000 would ul-
timately have to be spent to pro-
vide additional crossings over the
Potomac River for the 10000 en-
ployes that are expected to be quar-
tered in the building eventually.
To Use 67-Acre Tract.
The proposed new building
which would be the largest Federal
Office structure in the country-is
scheduled to be erected on a 67-
acre site of the former Agriculture
Experimental Farm property on the
Virginia side of the Potomac which
was turned over to the War De-
partment sometime ago.
A year and half ago-long be-
fore President Roosevelt declared a
national emergency, Mr.. Woodrum
pointed out, Government agents
were going all over Washington
renting apartment houses and pri-
vately owned buildings for tempo
rary Office space The War Depart.
ment, he said now occupies II diff
ferent buildings. and if the proposed
new structure is erected it will save
the Government between S2,500,00(
and S3,000,000 a. year in rentals.
Representative Case, Republican
of South Dakota, inquired about the
traffic situation that would result il
locating the new building in Arling'
ton County.
Representative Woodrum ex-
planned that between II to 20 pei
cent of War Department employe.
now live in Virginia and that tn,
10000 automobiles they use fol
transportation would be taken ou
of Washington and put on the othe,
side of the river"
This building in Arlington
County would not aggravate tn,
traffic situation" he declared.
Representative Taber said erection
of the building would not only resul
in economy from savings in rentals
but also would lead to increaset
efficiency in the War Department
since all of its employees would b.
housed in one building.
Highway Improvements.
Representative Randolph, Demo
erat, of West Virginia told tn
House the District committee whicl
he heads is now considering legisla
ton designed to help finance a pro
posed $44,50O,000 highway improve
ment program here.
Other local and nearby items i
tho hill which were approved alon
-. ~ r~,-0nO-p