Evening star., 1947-05-29
That GAO Building Design

To the Lator ci L he Star
The comments on the proposed General Ac-
counting Office Building (referred to as an
Architectural Cuckoo by some one who
signed the letter, quite accurately, as Adum
Archytect are unfair and not based on facts.
Actually there were less than two miles of
marble corridors in the building, and much of
this marble has. since been eliminated from the
drawings. The stainless steel columns were not
to be "futed," only the aluminium pilasters; the
stainless steel columns to be smooth.
The private dining rooms, referred to as 'for
the big shots" do not occupy an important
amount of space in this immense building, and
the windows as designed are not ideal" but
are great improvement on the windows now
in use These, windows are engineered to open
in and rest on nearby desk while the window
washer pours on water to wash the outer side
of the glass. When the window is raised to its
vertical position, the water runs off instead of
having to be scraped off thus saving time of
the window washer.
The total cost as estimated now is $29 900 900
and not $32 100000, and this is only an estimate
by estimators who are not up to date and base
their estimates on rumors rather than on facts.
"And, as to the block type building We mod
ern architects must abandon the old styles
prevailing 10 or 20 years ago. A glance at the
pictures of modern buildings in Moscow will
convince any one that we must hurry to keep
up with Russian. artists and we are determined
to outdstance them in the race to improve, or
at least change the existing styles of architec
ture which is becoming so tiresome to advanced
thinkers.
AS to the interior space, it would not be
proper for the officials, referred to as brass
and near big shots to take all OF this excellent
interior space for themselves aforementioned
and beautifully illuminated by fuorescent
lighting, and locate the Government slaves"
along the outside windows where they would
have to endure the bright sunlight.
Anyway by the time this new building is
completed and ready for occupancy, the Repub-
lican depression will be upon US and these
Government slaves" will be glad to work any,
where, even in air-conditioned. artifcially
lighted space DISGUISED.
Ironlc Comment on Wage Spiral
To the Editor of The Star:
Emil Rieve, president of the Textile Workers
of America, affronts the principles of postwar
unionism by deciding not to seek general AT
wage increase Such doWn-to-earth realism is
refreshing after the barrage of economic clap
trap dished up by Messrs. Wallace, Nathan,
Reuther, Whitney, Murray, etc. Perhaps the
much-discussed depression might be STAYED off
or its severity reduced. if these gentry took
tip-oh from such "pernicious doctrine"
Mr.. Rieve comedies that new demands, with
price levels already top-heavy, could damage
new employment prospects for his membership.
He is aware that textile profits are running
high in 1947 but admits signs of deterioration,
blame for which he neglectfully fails to place
at the door OF management. Yet Reuther-
Murray, ct al, based permanent demands upon
similar transient conditions, any disagreement
with their views being branded as abusive anti
labor propaganda. concocted by the masters of
grab.
One branch that clearly cannot undergo new
wage raids Is railroad transportation. in rehec-