The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-07-16

begin to house the Army'S office here and 1t is really only a third of 8 building. The War Department originally asked for $26 million to complete the job, but having filed the request in one of those psy- chological moments when congress- men were feeling a little economi- cal, the good solons said no, they couldn't have the whole $26 mill lions, but here were $10 millions to build one wing, and we'll see about the rest later.
 Consequently, it's this one wing this mere shack, this lean-to, this dinky little H-haped seven-story air conditioned quarter million
 square foot addition, capable ot
 holding only 2,500 employes-that Is nearing completion. The govern ment has title to two city blocks back of this wing where the other two-thirds of the building will SC eventually.
 This new wing will be the roof over the heads of only two or three departments of the War Depart ment, and maybe they won't be able to get all of them into 1t. Tentative ly, Assistant Secretary of War Ro- bert P Patterson, and his staff will occupy two floors, and the chief of engineers, Major-G General Schley and his staff will occupy three, leaving two floors unassigned.
 ALL IS
 CONFUSION
 Right now the building is in that mad state of confusion that char acterizes moving day wherever you find 1t. The building isn't completed but such is the demand for office space in Washington that they're moving in anyhow. That happens regularly in Washington.
 Under these happy conditions, building engineers and construction men roam the halls, telephone men squat in every other office, push button cords are strung up to wherever 1t is push-hutton cords go, sounds of pounding echo down the long corridors, and practically every two most forlorn words in the Eng lish language, Where is--." When uttered in Washington they have a particular significance. Half the resident population dealing with matters governmental goes around asking the other half, "Where is-?" Sometimes they trade sides and the game goes on as before.
 You have to run @ gauntlet of construction engineers, police guards, Public Buildings Adminis- tration inspectors and Army pro- vost marshals before you can get into the place because 1t is in that never-never land of not-yet-com- pleted and not-yet-accepted public buildings. That makes the building out of bounds for tourists, but even the people there on business have to state what 1t is, who they are, whom they want to see before be- ing given @ pass and a button to wear while going about their chores. The air-conditioning isn't going yet so everybody is pretty hot and both- cred, though trying to be helpful.
 Once identified and in, you look around the indirect lighted two- story foyer, fianked by twin stair cases, leading to potential exhibit halls, wainscoated by black marble and walled by marble that might be called pink if 1t weren't so red. The cafeteria and some offices will be on this first floor.
 Oflces for top men have what looks like beautifully grained wood panel walls and oak floors which will probably be covered with ex- ecutive green carpets of the kind that should be walked on reverent- ly, and only in the bare feet if you're not ticklish Offlces for the help have rubber-like floors. Much of the furniture is of the new metal design, but some of the old wood desks look like something the en- gineers threw together in hurry for 8 crossing of the Rappanhan- mock. The splinters probably snag the red tape pretty badly.
 PRIVACY NOT
 FOR PRIVATES
 One ingenious feature is the sys- tenn of private railways. There are the usual railways which are good enough for everybody up to and in- cluding the rank of lieutenant-col- onel, but for the silver insignia boys above that, there are parallel, con- cealed smaller railways so they can run into each others offices for conferences.
 This new War Department wing is just around the corner from the old Munitions building where Sec- retary Stimson will continue to hang his hat, and is right next door to the apartment house which was taken over as headquarters for Selective Service.
 The new building has. incident ally, enough bronze window frames, and enough bronze stair rails and elevator trim to make all the in. struments on a flock of battlewag- ons, but this building, you must was designed well along before the word "priorities" came to mean what 1t does today.
 WASHINGTON
 gPACER6
 Army administration in Wash- lngton is now In 23 government owned buildings, occupying 2,37b,- poo square feet Of floor space To keep congTessmen from bother Inc the War Department with 70 many queries. Representative Dirk zen Of Illinois has suggested that General Marshall set up a branch Iialson ofiiee in the capitol (. 3till hamnieFlng at loose contract ettlng methods, Congressman Ens Nal N9 Nf4R3afMna. haa ataWs5s11 &34WE a