Evening star., 1946-07-02
Public Bui|dino
Bill Approved
byHouseGroup
Measure Authorizes
Preparations for
Four Big Projects

AAc aouSe Fuplc bulIQlngS and
Grounds Committee today ordered
favorable report on a bill provid-
Ing stopgap public building legisla-
tlon for the District, including pro-
vision for a site for the proposed
new $40 100000 District Court.
introduced Friday by Chairman
Lanfam, the measure would au-
thorize appropriation of more than
$3,OO0,000 to purchase land and
prepare plans for four top-priority
projects in and near Washington.
Prompt Action.
1t was indicated Mr.. Lanham will
press for prompt action on the bill.
Directing the architect of the
Capitol to proceed with plans for
the court structure, the bill calls for
100000 appropriation for this
purpose. 1t also sets up a formula
for crediting the District with full
value for the court site-the block
bounded by Constitution avenue.
Third street, c street and John
Marshall place NV. The formula
provides:
Compensation for the site, which
Is herein fixed at s2,42O,OO0, shall
constitute a credit to the District
OF Columbia for its share of the cost
OF the entire project as hereafter
established by Congress"
Hurdles Argument.
Earlier legislation provided that
the District pay a full half of the
expense and be credited with only
half the value of the site, which is
District land.
The new bill would permit a start
to be made on the court project
without further delay being caused
by argument over the financing
plan.
In addition to the court project
the bill would:
l. Authorize appropriation of
81 ,oOO,OO for purchase of square
529, bounded by Fifth, Sixth, G.
and H strets NV. for an annex to
the new General Accounting Office
Building for which excavation has
already been made in the block i'm
medlately to the east and for draw.
ing Of annex plans and specifca-
tlons. The annex would be con-
nected with the main building by a
tunnel. Total cost of the two build
lngs has been set in long-ranse
building plans at S189O0,00O, but
actual construction has been held
up by Congress in view of the vet.
erans' housing shortage.
Provides Film Storage.
2. Authorize s1,16O,OOO for draw
lngs and specifications for a s5,OOO.-
000 tlm storage building at Suitland.
Mo, and construction of the first
unit OF the building-a group of $50
MIN vaults to house the millions of
feet OF irreplaceable war made and
copyrighted film now in the possess
sion of the Government.
5. Aut h orize appropriation of
$325,00O for drawings and specifica-
tions for $6,5O0, 900 combined rec
ord storage and Office building at
Suitland.
The oflce-reeord storage building
project is a key part of the adnin-
lstrations campaign to cut down on
the amount of privately owned Office
space rented in Washington. A
considerable amount of Government
used Office space in the Capital now
Is filled with banks of filing cabinets
containing duplicate files and rec
ords which are used only OCCASION
ally.
The new bill would authorize ap-
preparations of s30,O0o,0OO for land
purchase and preparation of build
ing plans outside of Washington and
contains provisions designed to
strengthen the control of the Pub
lie Buildings Administration over
Office space and equipment.