Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-22
Senate Hearing
Asked 10 Spare.
Belmont House
Plon to Expond
Grounds Of Copitol
Threatens Structure

InreotenS' StruCtuFe
A Public Works subcommittee
Iof the Senate today resumed
hearings on a bill calling for the
acquisition of a square and half
Iof additional land northeast of
the Senate Office Building for
Expansion of the Capitol Grounds.
A new parade of witnesses,
representing the National Wom-
ANS Party and affiliated organ
Iizations. was to take the stand
Ito insist that the Belmont House.
at IA Constitution avenue NE.
be exempted from the purchase
program. This is the home of
the woman's party.
Mrs. Amelia Hines Walker of
Winter Park. Fla, national chair
man of the party, yesterday urged
the subcommittee, headed by
Senator Mcnamara, Democrat Of
Michigan, to save the historic
building from the "sledgeham-
Imer of destruction.
She said the Belmont House is
one of the oldest in the District
and has great historical signifl-
canoe. She brought out that the
front portion of the building was
burned by the British during the
invasion of the Capital. She said
the building was set on fire be-
cause someone in the house took
Ia shot at one of the British
Officers.
VFW Makes Plea
A battery of spokesman for the
Veterans of Foreign Wars also
made a determined plea that the
Organization be permitted to go
ahead with its plans to build a
national VFW memorial for
members who had died overseas.
The Sis million party is planned
for a site on the east side of
First street NE. north of Con-
Istitution avenue.
This delegation was led by
Representative Van Zandt, Re-
publican of Pennsylvania, a for
Imer VFW commander.
An agent of the American In
Istitute of Architects made a plea
for the preservation of the Bel
mont House. This was L. M.
ILeisenring, area preservation Of
If1cer for the Ala, who also is
chairman of the Washington
Metropolitan Chapter Commit
tee on Preservation of Historic
Buildings.
Example of Mansions
Mr.. Leisenring said that, aside
from the historic background,
the building is "a fine example
of the early Federal mansions
built in the area near the Capt.
toll"
Another witness, Harold D.
Eberlein of Philadelphia, an
archivist, declared it would be
Ia catastrophe" to tear down
the Belmont House.
Richard H. Stringfellow. pres
ident of the Capitol Hill Res
toration Society, also joined in
urging the committee not to au-
thorize the sale of the Belmont
House to the Government.
The acquisition bill is spon-
sored by Senator Hayden, Demo-
crat of Arizona. chairman of
the Senate Appropriations Com
Imittee, and by Senator Bridges.
Republican of New Hampshire.
ranking Republican on the
funds committee.
Sees Saving by Action
Senator Hayden told the Nc
Namara Subcommittee extension
of the Capitol grounds to allow
for future expansion is inevitable
and that it is imperative that
the extra land be bought now
so as to avoid stepped-up prices.
The project also was strongly
supported by j. George Stewart.
architect of the Capitol. He
said experience on the House
side of the Capitol, where Con-
Igress appropriated money to buy
sites in advance of development.
showed that very large sums can
thereby be saved. Mr.. Stewart
also warned that rising building
costs and plans for new private
developments in the intended
site of later development near
the Senate Office Building will
increase the cost to the Gov
eminent if the project is post