Evening star., 1948-02-08
.krug Studying
New Moves 10
BIockAnlnex
Appeal to Congress
To Halt Building
Is Considered
By Nelson N. Shepard

By Nelson N. Shepord
Frustrated in earlier attempts to
stop construction of the Pan Ameri-
can Unions annex in front of his
Office windows overlooking Constl-
tuition avenue, Secretary of the IN
terror Krug Yesterday was pondering
possible ways to substitute action
for words.
Aides indicated two moves being
weighed involve:
Intervention by the State Depart
ment through its ambassadorial rep
resentative on the governing board
OF the Pan American Union, William
Dawson, in the hope of putting the
matter, again, squarely before the
81 American governments.
A direct appeal to Congress for a
legislative action that would stop
construction Or halt it until rising
building costs would make it i'm
possible for the Pan American
Union to complete the project.
Lleras Reply Cited.
Tips on these two moves, it was
said, were contained in the 1000
word reply of Dr. Alberto Lleras, di-
rector General. refusing Mr.. Krug's
request to halt construction and con-
fer on the matter with "all in
tereSted agencies
Any action by Congress blocking
construction of the building by re-
pealing the legislative authority 1t
granted in 1928, it was believed Ger
tain. would involve payment of q
large indemnity to the Turner Con-
struction Co. of Philadelphia and
perhaps to the Pan American Union.
Records disclosed that on April
10, 1887, former Interior Secretary
Harold L. Ickes suggested that Con-
gress authorize compensation" to
the Union as way out.
That was at hearing before the
House Committee on Public Build
ings and Grounds. He suggested q
bill to change the location of the an
mex building so that it would be
built in the northwest corner of
the present Pan American Union
grounds.
Union Built Tunnel.
At that time the Union had spent
about $4,000 to build a tunnel under
Eighteenth street to the triangle
where construction of the annex
building is now under way. Com
pensation at this last date, it was
estimated, might involve as much
as $500,00o. The building contract
Mas let last Fall; subcontEacts have
1eshae aarble and oshG paterial
DR.. Lleras has complained that in
creased building costs since last
July have boosted the building esti-
mate from $1,500,000 to S2,400,O00.
ABOUT 100000 of this $9eo,0Oo esti-
mated Increase, however, WAS said
TO Represent an estimate. for pos
sible future Aeventualitiesp~@s
What impressed Interior Depart
ment aides, however, was his protest
that future delay in construction,
blocked for nearly 20 years, involved
a danger" that building costs might
make it impossible to erect the
building at all. Some officials
seemed to think this offered a way
out for their chief.
Meanwhile, work on the site was
being handicapped only by the
weather.
No Help From Agencies.
DR.. Lleras told Mr.. Krug it would
be quite in order" for him to sug-
gest to the State Department that
The United States member of the
Board take the initiative
N calling the desired conference.
Since Mr.. Krug has received no help
either from the Fine Arts Commits.
sion or the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, both Of
which formally approved the build
ing location and plans, it was said
ne may consider the suggestion.
From the attitude of the two
planning agencies, it was apparent
that Mr.. Krug would have no help
from them in any appeal he may
make to Congress. In fact, the Fine
Arts Commission has fatty refused
to extend him any help. Maj. Gen.
U. S. Grant, III, chairman of the
Planning Commission has not yet
formally replied to the Interior
Secretary but it is known that his
position is the same as that of the
Fine Arts Commission.
"1t looks as though it might be
to stop construction" an
Interior Department aide admit
ted" We've lost the early rounds
definitely, but more rounds are