Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-06-01
Lynn 10 Request
OO,O0OtoP|an
Courthouse
Architect Of Capitol
Expects to Submit
. Estimate Soon
By Harold B. Rogers

An appropriation of 100000 will
be sought soon by David Lynn,
architect OF the Capitol. to begin
planning the new Federal court
house here, authorized by a bill
signed yesterday by President Tru-
man.
The new law provides for acquisi-
ton of site and preparation of plans
and specifications, but not construc-
ton. The building is to be erected
eventually along Constitution ave-
nue. between Third street and John
Marshall place NV. 1t will be de-
signed to accommodate both the
District Court and the United States
Court of Appeals for the District.
Mr.. Lynn said last night an esti-
mate for the 100000 authorized in
the new law, will be submitted to the
administrative officer of United
States Courts as soon as possible
The item then must proceed through
the budget bureau and the Presf-
dent for recommendation to Con-
gress. Since both houses of Con-
gress have approved the substantive
bill for the courthouse, and Presi-
dent Truman has signed it into
law, it is anticipated the appropria-
ton will follow.
Must Take Usual Course.
The item must, however, take the
usual course of supplemental re-
quest for money from Congress.
When it gets to Capitol Hill from
the President, it might be included
in one of two different bills.
One of these, the regular 1948 ap-
preparation bill for the State, Com
merce, Justice Departments and the
judiciary, already has passed the
House. 1t is to come up for hear
ings tomorrow before Senate APP
preparations Subcommittee.
Capitol Hill officials indicated that
under regular procedure, the item
could be inserted in this appropria-
ton measure. Usually, however, ap-
preparation bills start in the House.
So the item may have to be in
cluded in later deficiency bill.
Under procedure outlined to a
congressional committee sometime
ago, Mr.. Lynn plans to let out the
actual work of preparing plans and
specifications to a consulting archi-
tect in private practice. His office
will supervise the preparation of
plans and specifications, in conjunc-
ton with a committee specified in
the bill.
The committee includes the chief
Justices Of District Court and Court
Of Appeals, an associate justice of
District Court, representative of
the District Commissioners, the
commissioner of public buildings
and the architect of the Capitol.
District to Get Credit.
Although no construction is au-
thorized by the act, the site is de-
signated for acquisition" and credit
to the present owner. the District
government, is provided. The sum
of $4,000 is set up by the act as
a credit to the District for its share
of the eventual cost of the entire
project" iHow the cost is to be
divided, however, is left to future
determination by Congress. The
law carries no figure on estimated
cost of the new building.
A general preview of how the new
courthouse may look was given to
the House Public Works Committee
by Mr., Lynn. The exterior of the
building. he said, will harmonic,
both with respect to architectural
design and type of materials, with
the buildings of the Federal Triangle
group" The courthouse site lies
directly south Of the first unit Of the
Municipal Center, and in the general
vicinity of the Constitution avenue
group of buildings. which includes
also the nearby National Gallery of
Art.
The principal facade will be on
Constitution avenue, but there will
be entrances on John Marshall
Place, Third street and C street.
The general dimensions of the build
Ing will be approximately $50 by
440 feet. The structure will be five
stories high. except that there will
be an addition story for the central
portion.
The site has belonged to the Dis
trict of Columbia for many years,
since it was purchased for al
municipal center. 1t is used now
for parking lot, proceeds from
which go" to the District Govern
ment until the land is needed for
the new courthouse.