Evening star., 1952-08-05
Fails
In Bid for Use Of
Old Courthouse
Agency to Get Space
Due to Absence
Of Congress Action

By William A. MiIIen

SNs sVuUSu
The District Governments bid
for use Of the District Court Build
ing, at Fifth street and Indiana
avenue NV, today appeared to
have failed.
The General Services Admin
istration said it is considering Civ
ing the building to other agencies,
in the absence Of special legisla-
ton turning it over to the Dis
trict.
The United States Court of Ap-
peals Building, at Fifth and E
streets NV, will be occupied by
the Court Of Military Appeals.
about September Is. GSA said.
The District had sought legisla-
lation to acquire the District Court
Building in the recent Congress.
But Congress adjourned without
doing anything about it.
One Of Oldest i'm City.
So GSA is making studies on
the future use of the court build.
ing, one Of the oldest in Wash.
ington, which once was used as
the city hall here.
These moves are brought about
by completion Of the new United
States Courthouse at Third street
and Constitution avenue NV.
into which some of the court
agencies have already moved.
While no final decision on the
use OF the District Court Building
has yet been made by GSA, off,
cialS indicated the District is
pretty much out of the picture.
GSA said it Is now trying to locate
in that building agencies that oc-
cupy rented space elsewhere.
A GSA spokesman said the
terrific cut" in its appropriations
makes it necessary to get as many
Government workers as possible
into Federally owned space. He
pointed out that the current GSA
appropriation for Nation wide
basic operations totals $112,2 2,209,-
080. This compares with the $128
million asked of Congress for oper.
ations this fiscal year.
Now In Temporary Quarters.
The Court Of Military Appealsi
is now occupying temporary quar-
ters in the Bureau of Internal
Revenue, Twelfth street and Con-
Stitution avenue NV. It shares
the courtroom facilities of the
United ST <es Court Of Customs
and Patent Appeals.
The three-judge Court Of Mill
tary Appeals is entirely civilian
and has SO people on its payrolls.
The jurists are Chief Judge Rob-
ert E. Quinn and Associate Judge
George w. Latimer and Paul w.
Brosnan. This tribunal hears ap-
peals of officers and enlisted men
who are court martialed and make
the necessary requests for a review.
GSA officials promised there will
be no delay in moving into the
new United States Courthouse be-
cause Of the lack of new furniture.
They declared the furniture. some
oNit custom made. will be ready
to be installed in the new building
as soon as the space is available.
"All of the furniture needed that
has been requisitioned will be on
hand by October l." GSA spokes-
man asserted.
Further Shifts Scheduled.
Meanwhile, further moves to
the new United States Courthouse
were announced under the follow
ing tentative schedule: Chief
Judge Bolitha j. Laws of Districti
Court, August IL; judges jennings
Bailey. F. Dickinson Let's. James
w. Morris, Charles F. McLaugh-
lin. the last week in September;
Henry A. Schweinhaut and James
r. Kirkland. the first part Of
lSeptember.
Judges Richmond B. Keech,
August 8; Edward M. Currant.
August Is: Mrs. Burnita Shelton
Matthews, August 13.
The Clerk Of the District Court.
August 13; Motions Commissioner.
August IL; Commission on Mental
Health, tomorrow; Emergency
Court Of Appeals. August IL;
United States Attorney, about
September /; Bar Association
Library. about mid-September,
and the Assignment Commissioner.
last week in August.
The entire move is expected to
be completed about October l.
Other agencies Of the court al-
ready have moved into the new
building.