Evening star., 1945-11-28
.Heariings0pen
On Bill for D. {.
Courts BUILDING
Wender Prepared
To Attack Provision
For Sharing Costs
BY HAROLD B. ROGERS.


Vigorous bac ling of the bill to
provide the Capital with a new
Federal Courthouse was forthcom-
ing as hearings opened today before
the House Public Buildings and
Grounds Committee, but at the same
time witnesses were prepared to
strongly oppose financial provisions
under which the District would be
saddled with half the cost Of the
SIC, 300, 900 structure.
While Chief Justice D. Lawrence
Groner of the Court of Appeals took
the lead in advocating a new courts
building, finding no fault with the
division of cost, Harry S. Wender,
representing both civic and busi-
nesSmen's organizations, waited an
opportunity to register a protest
against the District having to foot
half the bill.
Justice Groner, the first witness,
who occupied most of the mornings
session, said the new structure is
needed for more adequate handling
of court business. On account of
the status of the District as a Fed
eral jurisdiction, with large
amount of local business in the
courts, he said, the financial pro-
visions of the bill were equitable.
Wender Against Cost Plan.
The bill, introduced by Chairman
Lanham of the committee, provides
that the District should not only
pay half the cost of the building,
but should also provide half the cost
of the site.
Mr.. Wender, representing both
the Federation of Citizens Associa-
tions and the Federation of Busi-
nessmens Association, was ready, he
said, to support the need for the
courthouse but intended to attack
the financial proposal to make the
District pay half the entire cost.
When Mr.. Wender could be called
as a witness was uncertain, since
several witnesses favoring the pend
ing measure were to testify follow
ing Justice Groner. These included
Chief Justice Bolitha j. Laws of the
District Court, Corporation Counsel
Vernon West, Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant,
III, chairman of the National Capt.
tai Park and Planning Commission;
Henry I. Quinn, chairman of the
District of Columbia Bar Associa-
ton Committee on the new court
house, and Seton Darr, chairman
of the Bar Associations Committee
on Relations with the District Court.
Mr.. Wender told reporters the Or
ganized citizenry and businessmen
he was representing considered the
new court building was both nee
essary and desirable but he in
sisted, I'VE do not feel it represents
fair deal for the District of Co
lumbia."
Has Amendment Prepared.
He has prepared proposed
amendment to the bill which he will
lay before the committee to mt part
Of the financial burden from the
District. He said he would intro
duce several news stories and edi-
torials from The Star on the sub
ject.
Justice Groner, emphasizing the
need for the new structure, branded
physical facilities as "a scandal"
He outlined the legal status of the
District as a Federal jurisdiction
under control of the Government.
He quoted from a Supreme Court
decision to this effect. The United
States courts here, he told the COM
mittee, are more heavily burdened
proportionately and have less space
in their buildings than any of the
"a Federal Courts in the country.
Press of Business Told.
He stressed the fact that courts
here not only handle the regular
run of business handled by Federal
Courts elsewhere, but also have to
take care of litigation from the
municipality, which otherwise would
be handled by State court, if this
were State.
Justice Groner described the
physical characteristics of the pres
ent District Court and contrasted
the accommodations with Federal
courts in other sections of the
country.
The hearing was continued until
tomorrow.
A comprehensive statement ex-
planning the bill was put into the
record from the Office of David
Lynn, architect Of the Capitol, who
is authorized by the measure to
supervise construction. The build
ing site is at Constitution avenue,
between Third street and John
Marshall place NV. Under the
bill the title, which is now held by
the District, would pass to the Fed
eral Government. The United States
would credit the District for one
half of the appraised value of the
site, or $1,210,000. This would be
subtracted from the Districts half
of the building cost, leaving bal
ance to be paid of $3,940 900 amor.
tiZad OVQr IN yearc