Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-23

Move Slated
To Complete
U. 5. Capitol
Action Next Week
Seen for Extension of
Section Under Dome
By HAROLD B. ROGERS

The new move under way In
Congress to extend and complete
the central east front of the
Capitol probably will get under
way next week. {
Disclosed by House Speaker
Rayburn yesterday afternoon,
the plan is to carry out plans
that have been pending here
since 1864.
Mr.. Rayburn said he favors
extension of the east front. He
said the House Office Building
Commission voted to ask the
architect of the Capitol to sub
NIT a report to the Bureau of the
Budget on the matter, as a pos
sible amendment to the pending
legislative appropriation bill for
next fiscal year.
j. George Stewart, Architect
Of the Capitol. said he is pre-
pairing to follow the orders
transmitted to him by Mr.. Ray
burn.
Vital Additions Possible
From other sources it was
learned that not only does the
plan propose about SIS million to
start the project, but 1t may re-
suit in a far-reaching program
to make the home of Congress
the Atomic Age Capitol of the
World.
The plan may include under
ground facilities for security, adj
ditional congressional hearing
rooms. a restaurant overlooking
the Capitol Grounds and other
space for congressional work.
Details probably will not be-
come available until the Budget
Bureau. with the approval Of
the President. decides what may
be transmitted to Congress.
The central front of the Cap
ltol, under previous plans, would
be moved about 40 feet east
ward. How it would look is
shown in a model of the pro-
posed revised Capitol on public
display on the street floor Of
the Capitol Building beneath the
rotunda.
Would Complete Design
Over the years. many argu-
ments have been presented to
show the need for extension Of
the front. Such a change in the
historic building would give
more working space for Con-
gress, would provide a gallery
floor corridor between the
Senate and House sides of the
building and would perfect the
architectural design of the struc-
ture.
On this last point, it has been
emphasized, time and again,
that the big Capitol dome. of
cast iron, appears to overhang
the east front portico.
During hearings in 1885 on a,
bill to extend the front, one
Virginia legislator Iikened the
dome to mans derby hat in
which the crown overhung the
brim.
The architectural defect" in
the building has been described
otherwise as due to the skirt
or base of the dome extending
over the east portico in such a
manner as to give the appear
ance of an apparent lack Of
support to the dome"
Need Cited in 1854
Need for extension of the front
was stressed in 1864 by former
Architect of the Capitol Thomas
U. Walter. in charge of con-
struction Of the House and Sem
ate wings. In a formal report
he said: M
Nov that the new dome and
the wings OF the Capitol are ap-
preaching completion. it must
be apparent to every one that
the extension of the center
building on the east to the line
of the new wings, becomes an
architectural necessity.
II have, therefore, prepared
plans for thus completing the
work in harmony with what has
already been done and will place
them in the Capitol for future
reference"
Whether Mr.. Walters plans
will be followed in detail re-
mains to be disclosed.
Speaker Rayburn explained
that Congress must authorize
reconstruction of the east front
by legislation, and provide funds
to do the job.