Evening star., 1949-05-25
EIIender Hits Eviction
In Fight on Senate 5
Luxury Building

Luxury buIl0lng
Senator Eiiender. Democrat. Of
Louisiana viii fight the proposed
new $4,000. 900 Senate Once
Building. and win try to prevent
eviction Of tenants now living on
the site.
In a caustic speech on the
Senate floor late yesterday, the
lawmaker scored his colleagues
for authorizing the luxury" prof.
ect without public hearings.
This construction is not q
public necessity or In the public
interest" he charged, "but is 3
patent luxury In which the Senate
indulges itself only because there
Is no check on our actions such IS
we exercise over other Federal
establishments"
II can imagine the storm Of
protests that would arise" he de-
clared, If some other department
of Government came before the
Senate at this time and asked for
s2l ,725 900 to build accommoda-
tions for 337 persons at a cost per
person Of $54,655."
Would Postpone Contracts.
Senator Ellender told Senators
he has pending q resolution to
postpone letting Of contracts for
razing present structures on the
site until Congress has time to act.
He complained that the Senate
Public Works Committee has not
yet given consideration to his
measure. Bids already have been
opened by the Architect Of the
Capitol for clearing the site.
located immediately east Of the
present Senate once Building.
IT am asking that the proposal
to contract with some one to level
the buildings which are now on
the site be dropped" he told the
Senate. LET use leave those build
ings there for some time. 1t viii
not hurt anything. Because Of
the shortage Of houses In Wash
ington suitable for dwellings, ]
am sure that the buildings can be
put to good use until such time as
others are erected to take care
Iof those people"
II have received many requests
for places to co." he told his COLI
leagues" and I wish to say that
the great arm of the Government
is now being used to put those
people out Of their homes. The
officials are not trying to find any
places for them, but those people
are being ordered by the court to
get out"
Supported by Aiken.
Senator Aiken, Republican, Of
Vermont, Joined in to say. THE
Senator is telling the truth, ]
know. After the Senate has
expressed 80 much sympathy for
people who lack places in which to
live, 1t seems to me very poor
taste to turn these folks from their
very humble homes into Z the
streets with nowhere at all 70 go.a
Twenty-three homes In nOtori.
GUS Schott's Alley on thu 4ite ol
the new structure sstfli afe occu-
pied, it was disclosed recently
when bids for razing the struc-
lures were opened.
Senator Byrd. Democrat. Of
Virginia agreed with Senator El-
lender that, II space tn the peeeent
Senate Once Building were nsed
with greater economy and Gm-
cheney, there would be ample
space, without need for q new
building,
Outlining the quarters available
Ito Senator'S at the present time.
Senator Ellender said readjust-
ment would show there is mo
urgent need for new construction
at ALL"
He said plans for the building
call for an auditorium seating
500, facilities for motion pictures,
broadcasting and television; two
large hearing rooms. each as
large as the present caucus room.
and q physical therapy room. the
principal feature Of which would
be q swimming pool 40 by IS feet
In size"