Evening star., 1941-02-22
Congress 10 Be Asked
To Authorize New
D. {. Court BUILDING
Old Pension Office Site
Chosen for Use When
6. A. O. Vucutes 1t

An official of the administrative
Office Of the United States courts
said today it was almost certain
Congress would be asked at this
session to authorize and appropriate
for new building for the District
Court for the District of Columbia.
Although a request for a new
District Court building to relieve
crowded conditions in the present
courthouse has been expected, 1t
had not been definitely indicated
to what stage plans had proceeded
until yesterday. At that time the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission at its monthly meet
ing revealed that legislation already
is in the final stages of being drafted
which provides for the new court
building and that general agree
ment had been reached on site.
Thomas S. Settle, the commits
sion's secretary, said it had been
decided to place the new courthouse
on the site of the old Pension Office
at Fifth and F streets NV, now
occupied by the General Accounting
Office, just as soon as new G. A. o.
building has been completed in the
block Immediately north OF the
Pension Office structure.
$4,000, 900 Mentioned.
Previously there had been a diff
ference of opinion as to whether TO
place the new courthouse there or
on Capitol Hill together with pro-
posed new quarters for the United
States Courts of Appeals, Claims
and Customs and Patent Appeals
and the United States Board Of Tax
Appeals.
The legislation now being sought
specifically provides, Mr.. Settle
said, for the demolition of the Pen
sion Office as soon as the G. A. O.
moves out.
What figure might be asked was
not disclosed in court quarters, but
Mr.. Settle said he had heard figures
between s4,0oo,00O and $4,000, 900
mentioned.
The commission, in the closing
hours of its monthly session yester-
day, adopted a resolution asking the
State of Maryland if it would consid-
er starting acquisition of the right
of way for the proposed Washing
on-Baltimore parkway between
Baltimore and Fort Meade, Md.
Mr.. Settle said that right of way
now is assured from the District line
as far as the north boundary of
the military post.
Some of the land has been bought
under the Capper-Cramton Act by
the Maryland National Capital Park
and Planning Commission and the
rest is to be provided by the Agri-
culture and War Departments from
Beltsville on. Now the commits
sion feels it is time for Maryland
to do its part, he said.
Parking Space Sought. =
The commission announced that
it was attempting, in conjunction
with Navy officials and those of the
Public Buildings Administration, to
work out a method providing new
parking space for Navy employees
whose cars will be displaced by the
proposed 750-foot rear wing to the
present Navy Department.
Members of the commission and
its staff, it was announced, are to
go to Annapolis Monday evening
to testify before a committee of the
Maryland Legislature on the exten-
sion of the George Washington Me-
mortal parkway from the District
line to Fort Washington, Md,
through Prince Georges County
The Legislature must match Fed
eral funds appropriated under the
Capper- -Cramton Act for purchase
of right of way.
The commission said it would send
a representative to a hearing March
3 before the Rivers and HarborS
Board of the Office of the chief of
Army engineers to testify in favor
of dredging the channel of the
Anacostia River from the railroad
bridge to Bladensburg, Md, for
Use of Measure craft