Evening star., 1945-10-02

north of the present State Depart
nlent would not include the entire
block and that historic structures
like Blair House would be spared.
In all likelihood those buildings
for which sites are not specified
will serve to inaugurate the East
Capitol street development, partic-
.ularly the $4,000, 900 general office
building to be occupied by the RBI,
since acquisitions other than those
along East Capitol street which
would be authorized do not provide
for building that size. However.
it could be built on other Federally
owned land.
Sites Not Revealed.
FWA land purchase officials de-
clined to reveal what sites for this
building and the PBA service build
ing are being discussed.
Additions and improvements at
the National Institute of Health and
post offices in nearby Maryland and
Virginia, according to the iegisla-
ton as prepared by FWA and the
Post Office Department, are not
necessarily slated for construction
in the near future.
The legislation includes these and
other projects throughout the coun-
try in an eligible list from which
projects will be selected from time
to time as the basis for requests for
appropriations.
In commenting on the bill today
Public Buildings Commissioner w.
E. Reynolds, on whom will fall the
responsibility for giving substance
to the vast program once Congress
has appropriated funds, said:
''If Congress enacts this legisla-
ton, the Public Buildings Admins
tration can 60 forward at once with
certain buildings having the high
est priority and do all preliminary
work on others, so that in case it is
judged In the public interest to
undertake large-scale Federal
building program to combat a re-
cession, the Government will be in
a position to do So"
Top Priority Buildings.
Mr.. Reynolds said a week ago that
top priority buildings for Washing
ton are the State. War and Navy
buildings and that with them out
Of the way the Federal agency hous-
ing problem in Washington will be
greatly eased.
At present the Government pays
$6, 400 900 annually to rent privately
owned buildings, and uses more
than 30 temporary Office buildings,
most Of which occupy park areas.
The legislation makes no reference
either to the West Central Heating
Plant at Rock Creek and Potomac
Parkway and K street. This was
not necessary, since funds for it's
construction are already in hand.
The foundation for the new heating
plant is installed and work will 60
forward just as soon as materials
and labor are available.
Neither is mention made in the pro-
posed legislation of the stadium.
which is planned as the culminat-
ing feature of the East Capitol
street development, and which is
at present being sponsored by the
Stadium Commission, under the
craftsmanship of Senator Bilbo,
Democrat, Of Mississippi, as a self
proposition, to be
financed by private investors.
Post offices in nearby Maryland
which are on the eligible list to
be created by the legislation are,
together with proposed costs of
sites and buildings, follow:
Berwyn. S85 900; Brentwood, $85,-
600; Capitol Heights, sS5, GOO: Col
lege Park, s95, 900; Gaithersburg.
5000; Indian Head, $s5 1000; Ken
sington, s85, 900, and Mount Rainier,
SIZE, 900.
Post Offices In Virginia.
Post offices in nearby Virginia:
Fairfax, sos, 900; Falls Church,
sl5o,0o0; Herndon, $4,000; Nc
Lean. sos, 900, and Vienna, s85, 900.
The legislation submitted to Con-
gress today bears the tentative title,
AN act to provide for the con-
structive of public buildings and
for other purposes" 1t is divided
into three titles the first Of which
sets up the eligible list" for prof.
ects outside the District Of Co.
lumbia, the second of which asks
authority for specific projects In
and near the District and the third
OF which would provide for amend
ments and additions to present
public building legislation designed
to facilitate building construction
and management.
Under one section of Title III the
commissioner Of public buildings
would be authorized to procure and
operate communications services in
buildings under his Jurisdiction.
Another section of Title III gives
PBA exclusive control over food
services in PBA-operated buildings.
Still another would provide that
all offlce furnishings in PBA
operated space would be under PBA
custody and control.
Yet another would give PBA
authority to sell property not usable
for building projects Zone such
exists at 2218 Thirteenth street
N.W.) and another would authorize
the Commissioner and ralhlic build