Evening star., 1948-03-22
Date Of Startinq
New Courthouse
Under Debate
House Committee
Hears Justices PIeud
For EorIy Beginning
By Harold B. Rooers

By Harold B. Rogers
Legislation for an early start on
construction OF the already au-
thorized new District courthouse
was debated today before the House
Public Works Committee.
Representative Dondero, Repub-
lican, of Michigan, chairman, an
nounced the committee will meet at
1890 am. tomorrow to hear wit
nesses from the District govern
ment.
The committee, Mr.. Dondero said,
wants to put into the record the
specific position of the District Gov
ernment which, under the bill, will
pay half the cost Of the entire
project.
Justices Ask Early Start.
Strong pleas for early construc-
ton were made to the committee
today by Chief Justice Harold M.
Stephens of the United States Court
of Appeals; Chief Justice Bolitha j.
Laws of District Court, and Harry
G. Hunter, Assistant Commissioner
of Public Buildings.
Representative Pickett, Democrat,
of Texas sharply questioned wit
nesses, especially Mr., Hunter, about
a so-called escalator clause in the
bill.
He drew from Mr.. Hunter an in
depreciation of the clause as mean
ing that the Public Buildings Ad-
ministration could let contracts for
the structure either higher or lower
than the figure of $18,665 900 listed
in the bill as the total limit of cost.
This proviso, Mr.. Hunter testified,
was included in the measure to
enable the Government to meet the
market costs of construction.
Some Call Limit Absolute.
Some members of the committee
thought that the limit of $18,665, 600
was an absolute figure above which
no contract could be let for a total
cost. including the land, architec-
tural, engineering and administra-
tive expenses.
The escalator clause provides that
"such limit of cost may be adjusted
on the basis of price levels prevail
Ing on the date of the award of the
major construction contract"
Representativ McDonough. Re-
publican, of California suggested
that the bill might be amended to
stipulate that in case of increased
costs, the structure could not be in
creased in cost upwards more than
10 per cent above the figure in the
bill.
After the meeting, however, Mr..
Dondero indicated he was satisfied
with the measure as 1t stands and
would prefer not to include the 10
per cent sproviso of Mr.. McDonough.
Think Bill Has Majority.
Mr.. Dondero said he thinks O.
majority..sof the committee is in
favor of the bill, but he wants to
get the testimony of District off,
cials, especially on the escalator
clause, before bringing the measure
up for vote.
Justices Stephens and Laws pre-
sented picture of congested quar-
ters and inadequate court facilities
here which they characterized as
courageous" 'frightful," and "un-
believeable."
The jurists' presentation was
largely a restatement of their posi-
ton outlined before congressional
committee when a previous bill for
authorization of the District court
house was under consideration. That
previous bill now is law but the
present bill before the Dondero
Committee is necessary before con-
struction can proceed.
Witnesses to Appear.
Among those listed to testify but
who did not get on the stand be-
fore adjournment at noon were
these:
Leo c. Rover Of the American Bar
Association, Bruce Baird, president
of the National Savings & Trust Co.,
representing the American Bar AS
sociation's District Of Columbia Spe-
cial Committee on Improving the
Administration of Justice; Vernon
West, District corporation counsel;
James c. Wilkes, District Bar Asso-
citation; George Morris Fay, United
States attorney; Matthew w. Bruce,
United States marshal; Associate
Justice David A. Pine of District
Court and former United States
Senator John Danaher of Connect
icIlt