Evening star., 1941-08-07

ible site where the building could be
located because of the Districts in
ability to expand its borders. The
bridge problem Is not as great as
opponents would have the public
believe. There is serious doubt that
full 10000 persons would be en-
ployed at the building and about Is
per cent of War Department en-
ployes now live in Arlington County"
Mr.. Dieter said detailed plans Of
radical highway and interconnecting
streets have already been worked
out and are now being constructed. F."
The proposed building on the ex-
perimental farm would 'fit in beau
tifully" with these roads, he as
serted.
The cOunty's population is now
increasing by more than 5000 per-
sons year." Mr.. Dieter also said,
land we are going to have TO have a
new bridge across the river very
soon anyway. Opponents of the War
Department project have not validly
argued that the structure would en-
tail the expense of an additional
bridge"
Offers Co-Operafisn.
Mr.. Hanrahan declared county
and State planning groups have
sought at all times to cooperate
with similar Federal agencies, 50 as
to make the county's development
an integral part of the development
OF Washington.
There is widespread disappoint-
ment in the county over objections
to the building here when there sp-
pears to be less objection to pro-
posals to erect Federal warehouses
and similar structures in Arlington. +"
he said. II have heard plans sug-
gested by officials of the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission to locate a tourist camp in
this general area, to which objec-
tions are now advanced for esthetic
reasons.
The county government has never
lobbied for the building, nor have
We approached the War Depart
ment on the subject" he added.
when such plans are advanced by
Federal ofiicials themselves, how,
ever. we do not feel that the type
of objections that have been made
should be advanced. Washington
has talked for years about the prob
lem OF decentralization OF Govern
ment departments and it would ap-
pear that the tax-exempt-Fe
owned property now available in
Arlington would supply a most
urgent need for room for expansion
ard at the same time keep such
departments within the Capital
area
Adds Weight to Opposition.
Although the Military Affairs
Committee is not passing on the
building item, which was written
into the defense appropriation meas
ure by the House, the statement of
Chairman Reynolds gave added
weight to the opposition.
Senator Reynolds said that if the
movement to take various Govern
ment agencies out of Washington
gains momentum there is a posi-
bility the District may become a
ghost town" when the present
emergency is over and the Govern
ment begins to curtail its activities.
The North Carolinian said 1t
might be advisable to consider use
of part of the Soldiers Home
grounds for the proposed building.
The Nevada Senator recalled that
the main purpose of the founders
of the Nation in setting aside a Fed
eral district as the National Capt.
tai was to have a centralized seat
of Government over which the Ma
ton would exercise exclusive con-
troll.
He pointed out also that one of
the reasons that prompted the Sem
ate Judiciary Committee to turn
down a District suffrage constitu-
tional amendment recently was that
1t is essential for the Federal Gov
ernment to retain exclusive control
over the seat of Government. He
indicated his belief this objective
would be circumvented if Federal
departments are moved beyond the
limits of the District.