Evening star., 1949-06-05
Final Approval Seen
For West Potomac
Park Bill This Week

, The Federal WORKS Agency mas
iost its fight to gain permanent
control of a portion of West
Potomac Park. but viii have
temporary custody of some Of the
buildings there until June 30.
1854. II Congress adopts Senate
House conference report slated for
action this week.
The report, dealing with the
omnibus public buildings bill and
agreed to ON Thursday, is ex-
pected to come UP in the House
tomorrow and in the Senate later
in the week. Since the conferees
have agreed. swift approval lis
expected In both Houses Of Con-
gress.
West Potomac Park is under
the Jurisdiction of the National
Capital Parks, but the present
wartime buildings were erected
there on temporary permits
granted by the Interior Depart
ment to the agencies involved.
FWA wants to retain these tenn
porary buildings because Of the
demand of Government agencies
for space. but the park service
wants to tear them down.
, Word Permanent" Dropped
. The Federal Works Admins
TRAITOR. under the pending legis-
lation, would have control until
June 80, 1854, not only Of these
structures but also of buildings at
Suitland. Md, Langston Stadium,
Twenty-fourth street and Okla
homa avenue NE. and Arlington
Farms, Va.
The contest over control Of the
buildings IN West Potomac Park
has been q tug -of-war all spring.
The Federal Works Agency used
its weight successfully against the
protesting National Capital Parks
in getting the House Public Works
Committee to give FWA perman-
ent control of the buildings. The
action Of the Senate-House con-
4erees Thursday knocked the
word permanent" out and made
it five years instead.
= The National Capital Sesquicen-
tennial Commission wants to use
the recreation building in West
Potomac Park, now used by the
Navy, and to tear down Quarters
fI', Immediately adjoining 1t
downstream. also used by the
Navy. The commission seeks this
land on which to erect buildings
FOR next years celebration Of the
150th anniversary Of the founding
of the National Capital. The
commission Is now negotiating for
the use of this area.
Buildings Affected.
The legislation affecting the
Washington area buildings con-
Germs:
Suitland: The infirmary build
ing and recreation building with
snack bar located on land COM
prising the site Of Federal Office
Building No. 8, occupied under
license dated November II, 1947.
from FWA to the Army Depart-
fnent.
> West Potomac Park: The recre-
alton building and storage plant
and the infirmary building con-
structed at independence avenue
and River drive In the park under
permit from Secretary Of the In-
terror to. FWA dated August a..
1912.
Langston Stadium: The recre-,
ation-cafetreia building and the
infirmary building at the Lang
ston Residence Hall project. con-
structed under permit from In
terror Department to Public
Buildings Administration, dated
June 10. 1912.
: Arlington Farms: The storage
building. maintenance shops. ga
RACES and an administration
building, the infirmary building,
the cafeteria. recreation center,
including auditorium, snack bar,
and classrooms and the fire sta
tion, constructed under transfer
of jurisdiction of land from War
Department to FWA by letter
dated May II, 1942. for use dur
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