Evening star., 1947-05-01
Letters to The Star
New GAO Building Design
Criticized q Too Solid
To the Editor Of The star:


General Accounting ONCE Building ut
Firth and g streets NV, appearing
in The Star April 20, 1s47.
What are we being treated to now
In the way of architecture2 Are we
advancing or retrogressinga Are we
being unduly Influenced by industry?
The proposed new building will be
new type block building" a solid"
building without courts for light. It
will cover almost an entire block, cover
ing the space of its site completely.
1t Is stated that this building is de-
signed to handle the greatest number
OF personnel In the least space.
am wondering If the architect con-
sidered that there will be people In the
middle Of this 'block" structure, this
solid" building, who viii work at the
same desks, with the same exposure.
or lack Of 1t, for years. probably spend
their entire working lives In such a
building. Is this humane? Is this in
deed economy? Does the end Justify
the means?
No doubt, for reasons assigned to
economy, there are also several floors
underground.
One wonders why, II this block build
Ing. designed to squeeze large number
OF people into the smallest possible
space. Ii 10 desirable, other architects.
IN designing other buildings, have been
80 careful to provide courts for light,
and why scientific management has ad-
vocated sufficient and favorable sur
roundings-and indeed why doctors find
it so necessary frequently to prescribe
"a change"
This kind Of thing makes one wonder
why God provided us with the glorious
sunlight and with this vast expanse of
space IN this wonderful country of ours.
Artificial Sunlight.
We are informed that the building
Will be provided with fluorescent light
ing-and possibly that it Is as good as
sunlight. Even If we had assurance
OF this fact, should we be required to
purchase such light? Should we be
required to purchase sunlight?
What Is the psychology Of the thinep
AND II we must consider the cost 20
carefully In building these buildings,
which are to house the employees Of the
greatest Government on earth, what
Will be the net result in terms of
efhciency2 Is this the type of building
designed to attract the highest caliber,
personnel?
And why, as stated by the Assistant
Commissioner for Public Buildings
should the building be perfectly plain.
nothing ornamental? I am quoting
from his remarks made when he ap-
peared before the House Public Works
Subcommittee, as reported in The Star.
Is it the plan to match the drab sur
roundings? Or are the planners un-
consciously aping the Government
Printing Office Building and the out
dated Pension Office Building, which
has housed the General Accounting
Of1ce recently?
Is the present wave Of economy going
to change the architectural pattern
here? Is this building without orna-
ment to be a monument to this economy
xWays it political expediency, similar
W. the ecunomy placards which ap-
peared In the streetcars under the
signature OF the heads of our Govern
ment before the depression of 1882?
Ornamental the building may not be,
It cannot escape being monument.
A briidfn Cf such size commands
public attention.
What are we trying to accomplish
In this life If 1t Is not desirable sur-
roundings, comfortable and progressive
existence? What are we trying TO
accomplish II It Is not to secure the
means for better living?
: What can any one do better than to
avoid uncrowded conditions, without
outside exposure? What can they do
better with the money which 1t is not
at all certain will be saved on this
project? FRANK M BOw1E
Cleanliness by Enforcement
To the Editor Of The Star:
Mr.. William Xanten's plea to the pub
lie to help keep the streets and public
spaces Of the Nations Capital clean is
one that should have the support of
every one. Yet there is certain portion
OF the public that either through lack
OF interest, lack OF respect for the law
or from the misfortune Of insufficient
intelligence will never cooperate I'M
less made to do 20. 1t Is . violation Of
tho law to deposit foreign matter on any
street, alley or other public space.
1t Is my well considered opinion that
the several police departments, Metro
politan, Park, Capitol and Building
Police, should strictly enforce this law;
that the judges In the Police Court
should support the police In this mat
ter. The District Refuse Department
should clean the streets, but should not
have to be nursemaid for persons vio-
lating the law. B.A.B.
Air Reserve sHamstruns"
To the Editor Of The Star:
1t has recently been brought to my
attention that members Of the Air Re-
serve are being passed UP by Congress
1nasmuch as they are not being paid
for their part-time duties as reservists.
This is indeed deplorable situation.
The Air Reserve is vital part Of the
Air Force, as large percentage of
the reservists are men who gained their
experience In operational duty with the
Air Force ove erseas. This branch of
the service surely deserves better
fate than to be hamstrung by the lack
OF funds.
The crowning indignity OF all is that
the National Guards air component
Is receiving the pay privileges which
are denied to the Air Reserve. The