Evening star., 1950-09-01
Our Expanding Capital

The emergency Federal building program
proposed by President Truman is in accord with
the master plan" for future development of
Washington prepared by the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission. Something new
has been added, however. Whereas the COM
MISSIONS plan was based on such non military
factors as population trends, parking facilities
and traffic congestion the President has empha-
sized the security angle. The plan ought to
stand on it's own merits without dragging in the
threat of an atomic bomb. But there are legiti-
mate reasons to include security as one considera-
tion and if it helps to secure prompt action SO
much the better.
Unfortunately Mr. Truman's statement
failed to mention that parallel legislation Is
necessary If the suburban building program is to
be carried out smoothly and effectively for all
governmental jurisdictions concerned. Cooper
alton of Maryland and Virginia authorities is
essential to the orderly development of the
Metropolitan Area. This cooperation would be
assured under Senate-approved bill that is
stalled in the House District Committee. The
bill provides for enlargement of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commission to include
official representatives of the two adjacent States
and to extend It's planning powers within the
area. It is only right that Maryland and Virginia
should have voice in the planning of National
Districts borders. This principle was adhered to
by Congress when it included in the airport bill
a provision requiring Federal officials to consult
with local authorities in the planning and
construction of the new air terminal. The
planning agency bill would insure nearby areas
voice in planning such additional suburban
projects as the $139,SOo,ooo building program
for $4,000 or 10000 Federal employees.
The Presidents program follows closely an
outline of the decentralization features of the
NCPPC postwar plan disclosed last November at
a meeting here of the American Society of Civil
Engineers. While the master plan itself is still
In process of publication at the Government
Printing Ofice, John Nolen jr. NCPPC director
of planning, told the engineers the plan con-
templates freezing" of Federal offices and
employment in the central area west of the
Capitol at approximately their present levels,
expansion of outlying centers of Federal activity
to reasonable limits" and establishment of new
centers as needed beyond the present or
anticipated urban fringe" Limited Office expan-
sion within the District was approved, provided
1t be confined to the existing Federal areas west
of the Capitol or along East Capitol street
Another proviso was that as new space was
added, Federal use of temporary and leased
buildings be reduced to an equivalent degree. 1t
is encouraging to note that the President included
In his program elimination of "tempos" housing
some q, 600 employees. This would be good start,
but Just start on job that cannot be considered
done until all temporary structures of two world
wars, including the Navy buildings on Constitu-
ton avenue are razed.
Now that the long-range Capital expansion
program has attained emergency status, it may
get under way far sooner than the NCPPC
planners expected and even before the master
plan is published. The necessity of action by
the House District Committee on the collateral
National Capital Planning Commission bill be-
comes urgent. If this measure should die in
committee, the Presidents building program is
sure to be beset with jurisdictional difficulties
which otherwise might have been resolved around
the planning table.