Evening star., 1941-07-31
Roosevelt 0. K.
On War Office
Is Disclosed
Woodrum Reveals
Approval; Delono
Report Hits Plan

Report Hits Plan
Disclosure that President Roose-
welt gave his approval last week to
the Arlington Experimental Farms
site for the proposed S35 600, 900 War
Department Building was made to-
day by Representative Woodrum,
Democrat, of Virginia, today as
Frederic A. Delano, chairman of
the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, prepared to
present to a Senate appropriations
subcommittee a siX-page report
pointing out weaknesses in the
project.
A statement issued by Repre-
sentative Woodulm revealed that
before the House Appropriations
Committee requested rule making
the War Department Building item
In order, it sought information as
to whether the matter had been
presented to the White House.
Stimson Quotes President.
Last Friday, Mr. Woodrum said,
he received letter from Secretary
of War Stimson disclosing the
Presidents approval of the project,
The letter said:
In response to your inquiry, l
am authorized by the President to
advise you that he has approved
the construction of the proposed
War Department Building at Airing
ton Farms.
Il may say that an urgent need
exists for this building and I hope
that we may have the approval OF
the Congress for it at an early date"
According to unconflrmed reports,
the President, since giving his ap-
proval to the site, is understood to
have taken the position that plans
for the huge structure might be
modified in view of the lack of road
facilities for such a large building.
Conference Held.
The President is understood to
have advised the War Department
last week that it should be passed
upon by the Budget Bureau and
, Planning Commission before being
given congressional sanction.
Late yesterday, MI, Delano ana
Budget Director Harold D. Smith
called at the White House for a
discussion of the multi-mllllon-
dollar project. AS they left, MI
Smith told reporters he might tor-
ward some recommendations to the
Senate.
Defending House action approx
ing the project, Representative
Woodrum pointed out the item was
recommended by the War Depart
ment, received unanimous approval
of the Appropriations Deficiency
Subcommittee, and that at the re-
quest of the subcommittee, the
House Committee on Public Build
ings and Grounds discussed the
matter with War Department rep
resentatives and then unanimously
approved the project.
Rule Unopposed.
When the House Rules Commit
tee reported out the rule making the
item in order, there was no dis
senting vote as far as know" said
Mr.. Woodrum's statement.
Mr.. Delano's report, elimination
of days of study and advising on
problems likely to arise from prof.
ect of the magnitude of the proposed
war building is. in the chairman'S s
own words, an effort Ito point out
the damage it would do if carried
out"
The Senate Appropriations sub
committee, before which Mr.. Delano
was to appear, is conducting hear
ings on supplemental appropria-
ton bill containing funds for the
project.
Mr.. Delano said commission men,
bers had looked into every possible
ramlfication entailed in the placing
of a building for 10000 Army en-
ployes in Arlington County and that
the report was composed chiefly OF
suggestions. He declined to say
what these suggestions were.
I'VE are not experts on matters
of national defense" Mr.. Delano
emphasized. adding that the report
was not to be considered as 'oppos-
ing the Army's ideas" He explained
that the commissions suggestions
were those of a purely peacetime
body and that they had been
drafted in the light of normal
events.
Commission Studies Report.
The planning commission held
special meeting Tuesday for the pur.
pose of working as a unit on the
war building report.
Gilmore D. Clarke of White Plains
N. Y, chairman of the Nationa
Commission of Fine Arts. has sem
word that he will be in Washington
today, and it is assumed he will ap,
pear at the Senate hearings. Tht
arts commissions approval of the
War Department building was no
sought before its inclusion in tht
bill. Both Mr.. Delano and Mr.
Smith, after their White House con-
ference yesterday, pointed out tina
the project had not been cleared
through their agencies before it wa
acted on by the House.
Full Hearings Promised.
Senator Adams of Colorado i
chairman of the subcommittee con
sidering the appropriations measure
He said Tuesday that all pro
ponents as well opponents of th'
war building project would be heart
within a day or two.
Senator Adams indicated that Wa
Department officials, including Ger
George C. Marshall, Army Chief o
Staff, were strongly in favor of il
but added:
I'VE will make up our minds as Il
the advisability of this project afte
we have all the facts and argument
haforo