Evening star., 1949-02-01
Senate Bill Increases
Limit on GAO BUILDING
Cost 10 $25,400,
By Harold B. Rogers

To cover the increased cost of
construction of the new General Ac-
counting once, Senator Chavez,
Democrat, of New Mexico, has in
troduced In the Senate bill to in
crease the limit of cost of the struc-
ture from the present $22, $50 900 to
$25, 400, 900.
The measure went to the Senate
Public Works Committee, of which
Senator Chavez is chairman.
Bids for construction of the new
GAO building on G street. between
Fourth and Fifth streets NV, al
ready have been opened by the
Public Building Administration of
the Federal Works Agency.
But, an official of PBA explained
today, the old limit of cost already
written into law would not cover
the entire cost of the structure with
its necessary equipment.
Bid Excludes Elevators.
Low bids for the building itself,
without elevators, escalators, par
tition and other necessary features
was $21 ,592 900, submitted by John
McShain of Philadelphia, who has
constructed several monumental
buildings in Washington. Other
costs, including the elevators and
escalators, architects fees and many
required pieces of equipment, would
run the total above the present limit
of cost.
Meanwhile, Senator Chavez also in
troduced comprehensive public
buildings bill to authorize extensive
planning for public buildings and
major Improvements to present
structures throughout the Nation.
It would give the PBA additional
powers in the District building field.
Principal feature of the District
provisions would be authority for
the PBA to acquire four blocks of
land south of the intersection of
New Hampshire and Virginia ave-
nues NV. These four pieces, two
triangular and two rectangular, form
kind of irregular "L' shaped area.
No Building Designated.
They would round out large Sec
ton of the same part of the city
that Congress, by prior legislation,
already has authorized to be ac-
quired for public building sites.
No specific building has been de-
signed for the new area as yet. The
new tracts, however, are in the gen.
eral vicinity once planned for the
proposed Navy Department Build
ing. They are north of the Heurich
Brewery property, which the PBA
already has been authorized to ac-
quire.
Two of the new parcels are i'm
mediately south Of the intersection
of New Hampshire and Virginia
avenues. One is bounded by Vir-
ginia avenue, Twenty-fourth and
Twenty-f1fth and F streets NV.
The other is bounded by New Hamp-
shire avenue, Twenty-flfth and F
streets.
The other two blocks are those
bounded by % New Hampshire
avenue, Twenty sixth and E streets
and (2) bounded by E, F, Twenty
fifth, Twenty-sixth streets and New
Hampshire avenue.
The PBA also would be empow-
cred by the Chavez bill to nego-
tiate leases for private buildings
here, except for the Post Once De-
partment, up to five years, instead
of the preesnt period of only one
year.
The PBA also would be authorized
to transfer to itself from other
agencies property needed for public
use, If the other agencies agree.
The Federal Works Agency, parent
agency of PBA, would be authorized
to furnish services within the con-
tinental United States, including
the District, on a reimbursable basis
to any international body with
which the United States Govern
ment is afiliated.
The bill would authorize ex-
penditure Of $4,000 900 by PBA in
planning post offices, courthouses
and other buildings and would pro-
vide another $50, 0,000,0 900 for repairs
to existing buildings throughout the
country.