Evening star., 1945-08-09
Planners Agree
On Location for
Federal Court
Bills to Be Filed Seek
Building on Site Of
Proposed Auditorium

today on plans to locate the new
Federal court building for the Dis
trict on the huge parking lot di-
rectly south Of the Municipal Build
ing, reserved for years as the site
OF the proposed Capital Auditorium.
Bills will be introduced when
Congress reconvenes next October
to authorize the construction Of the
long-needed court building on this
District-owned site, bordered by
John Marshall place, Constitution
avenue and Third street NV. This
assurance was given all interested
parties by congressional leaders.
Breaking of deadlock that for
while threatened to block the
plan came at the closing monthly
meeting OF the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission late
yesterday. That group, which voted
unanimously for the suggested loca-
ton, said that all previous obsta-
cles had now been removed.
Justice Bolitha j. Laws of the Dis
trict Court appeared before the
Commission and clinched final ar
guments in favor of the new loca-
ton. He is chairman of the Judi
ciary Committee appointed to Sc
cure new Federal court building
for the District.
The new building would house
both the District Court and the
United States Court of Appeals,
thereby relieving overcrowded con-
ditions now handicapping the work
of all local courts. Justice Laws
said the postwar work Of his court
is expected to increase 80 per cent
or more and continued overcrowd-
ing would interfere with its work
even more seriously.
When the question came up at
the last planning session, the Com
mission postponed recommending
the site south of the Municipal
Building because of various compli-
cations. The Capital Auditorium
Commission, created by Congress,
had selected the site for the pro-
posed auditorium, and its members
had not been sounded out on their
willingness to abandon it.
The Planning Commission said
the Auditorium Commission has
agreed to the introduction of leg
islation authorizing use of the site
for the new court building. Chair
man Lanham of the House Public
Buildings and Grounds Committee,
who will introduce the bill in the
House, is member of the Audi
torium Commission. So also are
Senator Robert A. Taft, Republican
Of Ohio and Senator George o. An
drews, Democrat of Florida, men,
bers Of the corresponding commit
tee in the Senate. (
The District Bar Associa tien,,
Justice I.aws told the planning
group, also-fay0Essthe location. -
Commercial buses should be al
lowed to operate on the newly
ope6ed Suielasgkf Parkway, only m
der ambition that they win not IN
terfere with rapid motor transporta-
ton, the Commission recommended.
The question was referred to it
by Col. John M. johnson, U. S.
District Engineer, as the parkway
is direct link connecting Boiling
Field with the Camp Springs Air
Base, now called Andrews Field.
The Commission recommended
that the parkway should be main
tanned primarily as an express high
way and that If a bus route Is to
be permitted on it, care should be
taken that the buses should not be
allowed to stop on the side of the
paved road. 1t was suggested that
this could be overcome by provi-
sionsf for regular bus stops at in
dentlires on the sides of the road
way so as not to obstruct traffic.
The Suitland Parkway eventually
will be a dual road but only one
road for traffic has been con-
structed.
The commission also directed its
staff to cooperate with Col. john
son in preparing overall plans for
the Improvement Of the Washington
water front. Authorization was
given in the recently enacted rivers
and harbors bill. Public hearings
are to be conducted by the United
States Engineer Once next month,
it was said, on such matters as new
bridges required, food control prof.
ects, seaplane bases and other inn
provements in the Potomac and
Anacostia Rivers.
In case the Government should
dispose Of the Greenbelt property in
Prince Georges County, the COM
mission proposed that the 1000 un-
developed acreage of the housing
project be turned over to some Fed
eral agency for preservation as a
recreational area. It would be q
valuable adjunct to the regional
park system, members believed, be-
cause Of the Baltimore Washington
parkway which now extends through
the grounds, connecting Washington
with Fort George 6. Meade.
The area is beautifully wooded and
has several streams in it. Planning
O1uCAdlS lCdT tlldt Unless CI1e Gov
ernment retains it, the acreage may
pass into private hands for develop
|ment.
The commission also approved "in
principle, plans drawn up by the
District Highway Department and
National Park Service to establish
the first unit OF the Fort drive
across Rock Greek Park. The new
roadway would parallel the Military
road, starting from Oregon avenue
on the west side Of the park.
The staff was directed to cooper
ate in working out some of the de-
tails involved. The money for con-
struction would come from the Dis.
trict's gasoline tax and from Fed
eral aid for highways.
Jops Say Roids Permit
'RepIonning Of Cities
81 the Associated Press.
SAN FRANCISCO; Aug. 9.-The
japanese looked up out Of the rub