Evening star., 1941-08-19
P| |ans 10 Talk
With SonlerveI|
Tomorrow
Budget Bureau Also
Will Be Consulted
Before Decision
Earlier Stories on Pages A-l-B-1.)

Earlier Stories on Pages A-1-B-1.)
President Roosevelt told a
press conference late today that
he is at present opposed to plans
for a $35,OOO,O0O War Depart
ment building in Arlington
County, indicating possibility Of
a veto of the military deficiency
supply bill carrying funds for
the project.
He said he had not finally made
up his mind on the matter because
he had not heard the other side.
Mr.. Roosevelt said that he would
confer with Brig. Gen. Brehon B.
Somervell, chief of construction
division. Quartermaster Corps, to-
morrow to get the War Depart
ment's explanation and he also will
consult the Budget Bureau.
Following these discussions, he
said. he will decide on his course,
adding that the bill had not yet
come to him for signature. The
Arlington building project is a part
of a $500, 900 900 supplemental mil
itary supply bill.
Considers Another Plan.
Reviewing the history of what
he termed dissertation of the parks
by Government buildings, the Presi-
dent said he had had a part in that
with construction of the present
Navy and Munitions Buildings and
that he did not want to do it again.
He was considering plan
whereby the new War Department
Building on Virginia avenue would
be expanded and the new Navy
Building built on the other side
of the Naval Hospital, Then, ne
said, the new Navy Building could
be turned over to the War Depart
ment for use during the emergency
and released to the Navy when
peace comes.
The President expressed belief
such system could be worked out
well.
Plans for the s35 ,o00, 900 building
showed the structure to be much
larger than needed and, in addi-
tion, would spoil for another hun
dred years a plan for Identification
begun about $50 years ago.
Wouldn't Obstruct View.
The present plan which permits
an unobstructed view of Arlington
National Cemetery, and the Tomb
of the Unknown Soldier, is known
to thousands Of tourists throughout
the length and breadth of the United
States, he said, expressing a sincere
hope that he would not be a party
to any construction that would spoil
this plan and the view.
Illustrating his feelings on the
subject of the city's parks, the
President reminded press confer
ence Of an old story he had told be-
fore on himself. He said he really
doubted if he would be allowed to
enter Heaven because he had been
responsible for desecrating the city
parks of the most beautiful city in
the world in 1917.
At that time, he said, he took up
with President Wilson a plan to
build temporary building for the
Navy Department on the oval south
Of the White House. President Will
son asked Mr.. Roosevelt, then As
sistant Secretary of the Navy, why
he had picked that site.
Would Have to Be Removed.
Mr.. Roosevelt said he had picked
1t because it would be so unsightly
it would simply have to be taken
down at the end of the war.
President Wilson said, however,
that he could not stand the ham,
mering and saving so close to the
White House, so the building was
put up in its present location in Po-
tomac Park.
The danger of fire in wooden build
ings then caused Government Of
f1cials to make the building flreproof,
and the President said, it is just as
solid today as the day it was finished
in 1918.
The building was so satisfactory
that a similar structure known as
the Munitions Building was built
beside it.