Evening star., 1941-08-13

appropriation bill. the transfer of
a major Government department
beyond the boundaries of the seat
Of Government.
The step is being taken in COM
plete defiance of the Commission of
Fine Arts and the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission.
The Bureau of. the Budget has
been wholly ignored along with the
Senate's own Building and Grounds
Committee
The Presidents hurriedly ex-
pressed admonition for caution,
written just before he left Washing
ton for a vacation, has been dis
regarded.
Many Transfers Likely Later.
And it is not only possible, but
probable, that if the scheme is car
ried out. the end of this war emer-
gency land all emergencies eventu-
ally end will see the transfer out
of Washington to Arlington County
of Offices for about % per cent of
all the executive employees in the
Capital. Such transfer would be
necessary to fill up the huge build
ing, planned for 10000 War Depart
ment employees, more than half of
whom doubtless would be dispensed
with after the war.
The story of a decision reached in
the course of few days but vitally
affecting the future of Washington,
esthetically, economically and per-
haps politically, is almost incred-
IDLY full of surprising contradictions.
confusion and unsettled differences
of opinion among the experts,
A subcommittee of the House Ap-
preparations Committee. on July II,
was listening to W. E. Reynolds,
commissioner of public buildings,
describe the lack of space for the
Government agencies. His COM
mission had asked for $4,000 900
for temporary buildings and fringe"
buildings on the outskirts of Wash
ington where some of the agencies
could be located. moving to make
room in Washington for others. The
Budget Bureau had cut this item
to about S6,000.000. Representative
Woodrum, Democrat, of Virginia
asked Mr.. Reynolds if $4,000, 900 was
enough. Conversation turned to the
land acquired by the War Depart
ment on the old Arlington Expert
mental Farm across the river as
the site for relatively small, tenn
porary buildings. for the War De-
partment.
General Had Plans Ready.
Mr.. Reynolds suggested that Brig.
Gen. Eugene Reybold, office OF
Chief of Staff, might say something
about War Department needs, and
the general was asked to look into
the availability of the old Hoover
Airport as site for an Office build
ing. Gen. Reybold returned few
days later, accompanied by Brig.
Gen. Brehon B. Somervell, an engi-
neer officer assigned to the Quarter
master Generals Department.
Gen. Somervell was ready, and
must have been for some time. For
he unrolled his maps and plans and
displayed to the committee the site
and architects drawings OF build
ing to be erected near the entrance
to Arlington Memorial Cemetery.
1t would cost $35, 900, 900. 1t would
cover "a acres. 1t would be three
stories high. 1t would provide about
1000, 900 square feet of office space.
1t could take care of 10000 people,
but at the present time we do not
think we will use it for more than
10000" There would be additional
space for War Department records.
1t could be built in a year.
Would the $35, 900 900 cover every
thing? Representative Woodrum
asked. "Will that complete the job,
covering everything, including the
utilities?"
"Yes, sir" said Gen. Somervell.
TT includes the cost Of the build