Evening star., 1947-04-11

y
Guarded With Rifle.
"When the marshals take prison
ers across the open courtyard, they
sometimes send man along with
a rifle" explained the justice. "Rut
the prisoner is still subject to being
taken away by gang which could
come up with machine guns.
Chairman McGregor OF the SUBJ
committee was to call his group
back into executive session later this
afternoon to act on the bill. There
were indications that it might be
approved by the subcommittee and
reported favorably to the full House
Public Works Committee.
The measure authorizes appro-
priation of $400, 900 for plans and
specifications OF the proposed new
building. It does not, however,
authorize construction at this time.
The big question Of how the cost
OF the whole project would be divided
between the Federal and District
Governments Is left for future con-
sideration by Congress. But the Dis
trict would be credited toward its
undetermined share Of the cost with
$2,42O, 900, the appraised value Of the
site, now owned by the municipality.
Site Is Now Parking Lot.
The site is fixed by the bill on
land now used for a parking lot on
Constitution avenue between Third
street and John Marshall place NV.
Although there had been objection
to this site In the past, Justice Laws
told the committee 1t had now been
approved by the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission and
the Fine Arts Commission.
Testifying for the District Com
missioners, Vernon E. West, corpo-
ration counsel, said the Commission
ers were heartily In favor of new
Federal court. He said they had
been willing to 60 along with the
project when the cost of the build
ing, under previous bill in the last
Congress, had been fixed at SIC, ,300.-
900, with the understanding that the
city would pay for half Of the whole
project, including the land and
building.
Now, however, he told the COM
mittee, the Commissioners were in
somewhat Of a predicament." He
said they would favor the proposed
measure now under consideration
except for the fact that they would
be committed to a project at IAN
unknown price, In which the Dis
trict share is not fixed"
Scattered in Nine Buildings.
The Commissioner feel, Mr.. West
said, that they still would favor
paying one-half of building cost
ing $40, 300, 900 and one-half the cost
of the land. But, If the building
cost more than that, he thought the
Federal Government should pay all
of the difference above $40, 300, 900.
Justice Laws presented several
witnesses to strengthen previous
testimony on the dire. need of the
court because Of its congested facili-
ties now scattered in nine different
buildings.
Among the witnesses this morn
ing were Ralph A, Van Orsdel OF
the Board of Trade; Leo A. Rover,
former United States Attorney here:
James C. Wilkes, chairman of the
District Bar Association Committee
on the Courthouse; David Lynn,
architect of the Capitol, and w. E.
Reynolds, commissioner of public
buildings of the Federal Works
Agency.
The committee members ques-
toned witnesses at length to clarity
certain features of the bill. 1t was
indicated some minor changes might
be made But If the committee
should approve the measure, it was
expected to come out in form very
similar to the bill now pending
before the Senate Public Works
Committee.
Representative McGregor, Repub-
lican, Of Ohio said, after the hear
ing yesterday, the testimony so far
had established the fact the court
house project here was definitely
in the class of emergency"
ALI public building proposals are
being screened carefully by the sub
committee, he said, and only those
which can be justified because of
emergency will be considered favor
ably.