Evening star., 1948-02-01
krug Criticism
|0fPanAmerican
Annex AssaiIed
Too Late to Halt
Project, Fine Arts
Chairman Asserts
By Nelson M. Shepard

SIldA lIlhIl NrlifHUTS -. ClATkc uG~
clared yesterday the Fine Arts Com
mission knew exactly what it was
doing" when 1t approved the man.
ner in which the new Pan Ameri-
can Annex Building would protrude
beyond other structures on Consti-
tuition avenue.
Informed that Secretary of the
Interior Krug had written him ask
ing that he join in helping him to
get Congress to halt construction
work on the building and protect
the avenue from DETACHMENT" the
Fine Arts official replied:
Mr.. Krug is just bit too late"
DR.. William Manger, assistant di-
rector of the Pan American Union,
said that regardless of the issue
Mr.. Krug has raised and his threat
to go to Congress about it. the con-
structlon work, already DELAYED
since Congress first authorized it
IS years ago, would now go on un-
interrupted.
Dissatisfaction Regretted.
TT is regrettable there still are
some persons who are not satisfied
with the location" DR.. Manger COM
mented. I'VE will proceed, of course,
in accordance with the facilities
made possible by Congress and In
harmony with the two Federal
agencies which are authorized to
pass on such matters
Both DR.. Manger and Mr.. Clarke
said the Fine Arts Commission and
the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission were fully
cognizant' of the facts about which
Mr.. Krug complained
The Fine Arts chairman. in q
telephone conversation from New
York, said he had not received
the Secretary's letter but explained
that the contract had been let for
the building, work was in progress
and that 1t was too late to do any,
thing now
He explained the commission had
acted deliberately" in approving
the design and location of the An
mex building and also had done so
unanimously"
1T is a gem of a building, de-
signed by associates of the late Paul
Cret. architect of the Pan American
Union Building the Fine Arts
chairman said.
Reference to Other Buildings.
The Interior Department had
stated previously that the new
building would extend LOG feet be-
yond the established building line
on the avenue west of the Pan
American Union at Seventeenth
Street. Direct reference was made
to the former Public Health Ser
vice Building and the Federal Re-
serve Building. These are supposed
to be set back 214 feet from the
curb, it was claimed.
Mr.. Clarke explained, however,
there was no arbitrary" building
line along the northern side of
Constitution avenue The entire
matter. 1t is known, was gone into
very carefully and the building
plans revised to fit more handily into
the triangular site in front of the
Interior Department.
A casual inspection yesterday OF
the eXcavati ton on the triangle indi-
Gated the correctness of Mr. Clarke's
contention. There appears to be no
rigid building line in the vicinity.
Contrary to the belief of Mr.. Krug.
the Federal Reserve Building ex-
tends some 30 or 40 feet beyond the
adjacent building now housing the
Atomic Commission.
The Pan American Union has
not the slightest intention, it was
made known, of moving the long
established directors residence on
the Union grounds to make room
for the annex. That was proposed
by former Interior Secretary Har-
old L. Ickes and now is suggested
oy aides of Secretary Krug.
Ickes' Summary Of Problem.
Apparently Mr.. Krug got the idea
of the so-called established building
line on Constitution from his pred
ecessor whose fight halted construc-
ton of the annex IL years ago. In
February, 1886, Mr., Ickes summar-
lied the problem in this fashion:
THE proposed administration
building for the Pan American
Union would practically ruin the
view of our new sl0,000.000 De-
partment of the Interior Building.
As designed by the Unions ar
chitect. the roof Of the annex would
reach the main cornice Of our
structure. Also, the Union build
ing is intended to be placed of
axis with ours. as well as out of
line with existing edifices along
Constitution avenue. This effect.
we believe, would be architectural
anarchy
Present officials declare this ef-
feet still holds and can be changed
only by halting construction work
on the site, which until lately was
occupied by the Marine Corps IA
nous Two Jima flag-raising statute.