Evening star., 1941-04-03
Planning Group
ForU.S.B Bui|dinu
Named
House Approves
Fund to Construct
Temporary Offices
Nv 7. A. OJFARY.

BY J. A. OLEARY.
Appointment of special Senate
subcommittee to make a thorough
study of the Federal building stu.
alton here with a view to planning
of future needs, was announced to-
day by Chairman Maloney of the
Public Buildings and Grounds Com
mittee.
The move came as the House ap-
proved the conference agreement on
the fifth supplemental defense bill
which makes 81, 100000 available for
six temporary frame office struc-
lures to house expanding Govern
ment agencies.
The Senate may complete action
later today on the conference agree
ment.
At the same time, Senator Ma
lonet announced appointment of a
separate subcommittee to consider
a bill to authorize the Pan-Ameri-
can Union to erect new Office
building near the new Interior De-
partment Building. The measure
involves controversy over whether
certain streets in the vicinity of
Eighteenth street and Virginia ave-
nue. should be closed and rerouted
in order to keep the Pan-American
structure from blocking the view of
the Interior Building.
District Site Ordered.
The conferees changed the bill
late yesterday to require erection of
the temporary buildings within the
District. AS originally passed by
the Senate several days ago, the
measure vested discretion in the
Public Buildings Administration to
erect them on Government-oWne
land, either in 'or near" the Dis
trict. The conference agreement
eliminates proposed site in Ar
Gngton County, Va.
Senator Taft, Republican. of Ohio
was named chairman of the Fed
eral Buildings Subcommittee, with
Senators Gillette, Democrat, of
Iowa and Green, Democrat, of
Rhode Island as members.
Senator Taft expressed his per-
sonal conviction that there ought
to be a more definite plan than
there Is today for future expansion
of Government buildings in Wash
ington."
The Ohio Senator pointed out
that in 1926 Congress passed a
comprehensive Public Building Act
for the Capital, under which the
Pennsylvania avenue-Mall Triangle
was developed. 1t is understood
discussion developed in the Public
Buildings and Grounds Commit
tee in the last few days as to
whether that statute is broad
enough to cover present and future
requirements or whether this basic
legislation should be revised.
The pending s4,100,00O item for
temporary structures led directly to
the appointment of the Taft sub
committee.
Six Frame Buildings.
officials testified during Senate
hearings that they plan to erect
six frame buildings, two stories high,
containing 100000 square feet of
office space.
When first indications to place the
six buildings on the Arlington Ex-
perimental Farm was known, Ar
lington County officials frankly ad-
mitted the sudden boom might be
embarrassing to the county.
Particularly, said county officials,
sewage disposal facilities at the -Four
Mile Run plant, would not handle
from the Office buildings and the
private housing that would follow
In the county.
Police facilities would have had to
be expanded, also, and schools and
roads would not have been adequate
to provide for the sudden in
crease in population, officials said.
There was hope that with passage
of the community facilities" bill
now in the House Committee on
Public Buildings and Grounds, some
of the S15O,0OO 900 might be expend-
ed to allow Arlington County to
catch up with its new population.
1000 More Pupils Seen.
School officials had estimated that
an annual budget Of 81, ,383, ,470 might
be necessary to carry on the edu-
cational work under the expected
conditions. The 1941 budget was
s630,000, and Supt. Fletcher Kemp
estimated that 1000 additional chill
dren might be enrolled.
In addition to general school op-
Grafton, the question of Fairgrounds
had been considered by County
Manager Frank Hanrahan. He men,
toned a $4,000 item for purchase
of park land in his budget estimates,
and said some of the land might be
used for Fairgrounds.
While the bill acted on today
does not affect the construction
of one Office building at Suitland,
Md, for which funds already have
been appropriated, it may set a
precedent that will prevent further
expansion outside the District in
the future. Preliminary plans for
seven additional buildings had been
made.