Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-10-29
New War BUILDING
Called 'Expediency'
Writer Says Arlington Plan
Leads to 'Mistrust'
Of Defense Endeuvors
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor of The Star
The fact that the War Department &C
tually has been permitted to begin con-
struction of a $35 100000 structure in
Arlington must have produced in many
a sense of baffled bewilderment. That
we at this time should embark upon so
senseless a venture seriously reflects on
the efficiency, if not on the sanity, OF our
war effort in general and proves, as
nothing else could, that this effort has
degenerated to the point where the
means, instead of leading to the end,
has become the end in itself. More
than that, it shows how far astray our
effort has gone.
There is not, and never has been, the
slightest excuse or justification for this
structure on any grounds whatever. But
the puzzling thing is this, that the argu-
ments for the building, which were out OF
perspective and slightly ridiculous, have
been carefully refuted point by point
with facts and figures; yet, the thing is
now under construction. This simply
does not make sense, but it may be
accepted as a symptom of the condition
of our administrative thinking. What
must be the effect of such an outrageous
departure from common sense on public
morale? Things of this sort must I'M
doubtedly lead to mistrust of the entire
defense effort. Who will willingly pay
increasing taxes or purchase Govern
ment bonds if the destiny of his money
is such pointless expenditures as. this
one? If we may expect the sacrifice of
a year or more by millions of our young
men and intense effort by industry, we
also can expect at least slight sacrifice
of convenience on the part of the adj
ministrative workers. Democracy is not
founded on special dispensation.
One first may question the necessity of
employing so many additional workers
when evidences of inefficiency, duplica-
ton, useless red tape and general I'M
productiveness suggest the possibility of
getting far more work out of those at
present employed AS for space avail
ability, the Interior Department alone,
doubtless, could release one-fourth its
area without undue discomfort to its en-
ployes No one could object to some
inconvenience for good purpose. How
ever, one may dislike turning over space
to agencies which apparently impede,
rather than facilitate, defense. Those
workers who still could not be housed
despite more efficient space planning
would far better be housed in temporary
buildings The future might present
some slight chance of disposing of these,
of the War Department there is none;
or is it assured that the emergency, like
the depression. eventually will become
the norm?
Another ramihcation of the structure
is the blithe way in which its planners
tossed into the discard the cherished
city plan accredited to Maj. LEnfant.
There may be some question as to the
wisdom with which his successors modi-
fed, interpreted and adapted his plan
to the development of a modern city,
overlooking the fact that the major
planned neither for 100000 people nor
for motor vehicles. But, wise or not, it
is the accepted plan-one upon which
years of study have been lavished. With
one sweeping gesture the new building
has settled itself, not in its designed
planned position but in majestic isola-
ton requiring an expenditure of sa,ooo.-
900 merely to tie it to location wherein
the circulation cost would have been
relatively negligible.
It is to be doubted that the War De-
partment could be induced to exchange
mere quantity for planning but it is I'M
fortunate that at time when planning
is of paramount Importance it should be
replaced by mere expediency.
WILLIAM NJ. HAUSSMANN.