Evening star., 1947-04-12
House GrouptoW Weigh
Federal Courthouse
Measure on April d
By Harold B. Rogers

The amended bill for planning a
new Federal Courthouse here will
come before the full House Public
Works Committee, April 20, for. ac-
ton.
Changed in some minor details,
the measure was approved by unan-
imous vote yesterday afternoon by
the Public Buildings Subcommittee
Of the Public Works Committee.
Representative McGregor, Repub-
1ican, of Ohio, subcommittee chair
man, said: 1--WE feel we have care
fully investigated the project and
found it to be q definite emergency
and need. We hope the full COM
mittee will give 1t a favorable re-
port to the House"
Mr.. McGregor said he appreciat-
ed the testimony Of Chief Justice
Bolitha J. Laws of District Court,
"his splendid manner and fairness" !"
"He won the confidence and re-
spect OF every member Of this COM
mittee," added the subcommittee
chairman. "He presented conditions
just as they exist, not worse, not
better. He answered questions di-
rectly. His testimony was valuable
to the committee in consideration Of
the bill"
Estimate Of Cost Ordered.
The subcommittee amended one
provision Of the bill to direct the
committee OF six members, which
would be established by the measure,
to estimate" the cost of the court
hourse and report its findings to
Congress. The bill previously would
have authorized the group to "estab-
lish" the limit of cost.
The subcommittee also struck
from the bill authority for travel by
the committee to visit other court
structures elsewhere, to study court
problems.
The item of $400, 900 for plans and
specifications was stipulated by an
other amendment to Include all
architectural fees"
The six-member board under
whose direction the plans would be
prepared would consist of the chief
justice of the United States Court
of Appeals, the chief justice of Dis
trict Court, an associate justice of
District Court, member of the
Board of Commissioners of the
District, the Commissioner of Pub
lie Buildings and the architect Of
the Capitol.
Architect Outlines Plans.
David Lynn, architect of the Cap
itol, outlined to the subcommittee
preliminary plans for the court
house. It would be located on Con-
stitution avenue between Third
street and John Marshall place
NV, on land now used as a parking
lot.
The principal facade, Mr.. Lynn
said, would be on Constitution ave-
nue., facing the Mall, but with en-
frances on John Marshall place,
Third street and C street.
"The exterior of the building Mr..
Lynn testified, will harmonic, both
with respect to architectural design
and type of materials, with the
buildings Of the Federal Triangle
group and with those OF the Munich
pal Center group"
General dimensions of the pro-
posed building were given as 280 feet
by 40 feet. The structure would be
five stories high, with an additional
story over the central portion.
The first floor would be occupied
by the Offices of the clerk of the
court, the marshal and the register
OF wills. The second floor would be
for Offices of the district attorney
and courtrooms. The third, fourth,
fifth and sixth floors would contain
chiefly courtrooms.
The matter of cost was discussed
at length during two days Of hear
ings. Several witnesses testified that
cost of construction, especially ma
terials, is expected to be lower in
about a year.
From eight months to year would
be required to perfect the plans and
specifications, it was explained.