Evening star., 1950-02-01
Planners Row
WithCityHeads
Flares sdtCapitoi
Jurisdiction Debated
At House Hearing on
Reorganization Bill

standing conflicts be-
tween the District Commissioners
and Federal planners f1ared again
today at a House subcommittee
hearing.
The dispute between Inc city
heads and the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission
arose at hearing on bill to e.
organize the latter group.
There was a reference to the
battle between the two groups
over the best site for the projected
new bridge for the Anacostia
River. Only yesterday the Com
missioners wrote the planners a
stern letter on this. The debate
also recalled the fight between
them as to whether twin spans
should be quilt to replace old
Highway Bridge, contest that
was won by the city heads who
favored twin bridges.
The planning commission was
taken to task at the hearing for
having gone to the Federal Hous-
ing Agency to object to the plans
for the huge Arlington Towers
apartment project which is to be
built on part of the Nevius tract
in Arlington County.
Smith Calls Issue Hot.
This was by Representative
Smith. Democrat, of Virginia. a
subcommittee member, who said
the issue was "red hot right now"
Mr.. Smith said people in Arling-
ton County get up on their hind
legs and ask who is running this
county," when an instance like
this occurs.
He told planning commission
officials. You say you only ad-
wise in such a case but if you
tell the FILA that the President
doesn't want a loan made it may
be just as effective as If the COM
mission had full authority"
Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant III,
U. S. A., retired, former chair
man of the planning commission,
and Thomas S. Settle, its secre-
tary, defended the commission's
action, insisting that it had only
given advice and explaining il
had an obligation to protect Fed
eral developments.
Amendments Urged.
Spokesman for the District gov
ernment. while heartily indors-
ing" the planning commission bill.
which was passed last fall by the
Senate. made a vigorous fight for
amendments.
One of these was called vital"
by 1t. Col. c. H. Whitesell. assist
ant Engineer Commissioner. This
would strike out of the bill a pro-
vision which would give the plan
ming body control over the type,
design and location of any Dis
trict or Federal Government prof.
ect built in suburban Maryland
and Virginia.
Col. Whitesell brought out that
the Planning Commission does not
have authority over District
building at Blue Plains, D. c., for
instance, but under the proposed
bill would have final say over
some structure erected at the Dis
trict Reformatory at Lorton, Va.
Other objections raised by the
District representatives went to
the number of District members
on the enlarged commission and
to a proposed requirement that
the District submit It's proposed
regulations. as well as building
plans. to the Planning Commits
sion before they become effective.
Cost Would Be Transferred.
Gen. Grant said all the COM
mission wanted was to have a
chance to comment on the pro-
posed regulations before they were
adopted and that then the Com
missioners "can make all the mis-
takes they want to-"
One effect of the legislation
would be to transfer the cost of
the planning commission. now
$84,700 a year. from the District
to the Federal Government. Gen.
Grant said this was justified be-
cause much of the work of the
|commisson dealt with Maryland
and Virginia and that this would
become more so in the future be-
cause Of the steady growth of pop
ulation IN the suburbs.
The hearing was recessed until
tomorrow and Representative
Smith asked that any decision be
delayed until he could consult with
Arlington and Alexandria officials.
Witnesses tomorrow are to include
Horace Peaslee Of the American
Institute of Architects, and a
spokesman for the Maryland-N Ma
tional Capital Planning Commits
sion. ,..@