Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-20
Architects Hit
Capitol Plan


Rich and Ralph Walker are
kicking UP a considerable fuss
about the plan approved by Con-
gress for the extension of the
east front of the Capitol.
They have started a drive to
Interest members of the Ameri-
can Institute of Architects over
the country to oppose what they
call a 1916 million boondoggle."
The renovation project, they say,
would "deSecrate" the Capitol.
Their views were carried in the
current issue of the Architec-
Itural Forum.
Since the magazines April is
sue went to press with its edi-
!torial, the New York chapter of
the ALA has adopted reSolu-
ton opposing the project and is
writing to members of the House
and Senate.
Studied for Years
The project has been under
study for many years. The COM
plant has been that, while many
IchangeS have been made in the
structure of the Capitol. both be-
fore and since its burning by the
British, the plan never has been
completed. 1t is proposed to
move the east front some dis
lance outward from the present
line of the outside wall, but it
would still be within, the line of
the eastern extremity of the
House and Senate wings.
One of the purposes is prac-
tical. Advocates say this would
afford a considerable additional
amount of space within the
building for committee and con-
/ ference rooms.
/ Tied in with this are plans
/ to develop a two-level under
ground garage under the paved
plaza Immediately east of the
Capitol. Also on the practical
side are plans for the develop
ment underground of a big new
restaurant to serve members and
employes of the House and Sem
ate.
On the aesthetic side, advo-
Gates of the plan say the project
not only would complete the de-
sign of the Capitol but would
also enhance its beauty.
Actually, the dome itself does
not overhang the east wall but
the big skirt beneath it does
None of these arguments, how
ever, has satisfied the opposi-
ton. An editorial in the Archi-
tectural Forum, signed by Doug
las Haskell, editor. declared:
Nothing Forum has recently
advocated has drawn wider ia
vorable response than the re-
neWed push to preserve the Cap
itol in Washington"
Petition to Rayburn
The society of Architectural
Historians, joining in the pro-
test move. some time ago sent a
petition to House Speaker Ray
burn. The Architectural Forum
said Mr.. Rayburn's reply, to
Francis p Douglas, a reporter
for The Washington Star, was
that the work would proceed. 4"
The magazine added that Mr..
Rayburn hoped to remove the
parked cars from the plaza. The
magazine went on to say Mr.
Rayburn could do this without
remodeling the east front of the
Capitol.
The Architectural Forum ar
ticle went on to say:
1T is hard to believe that
Speaker Rayburn can long re-
main in his present position of
backing SIG million boondoggle
"a monumental folly against
the manifest wishes Of great
majority of his fellow country
men.
Lets repeat what the situa-
ton is. The proposal to move
the east front of the Capitol
some 36 feet forward is officially
intended to secure a few hearing
rooms and lunchrooms for Con-
gressmen. plus needed corridor
across the building bypassing the
public lobbys.
ITO achieve these Official aims,
it is not necessary at all to push
forward a whole monumental
wall We note the offer OF the
ALAS board Of directors to find
a solution for these official aims
within the present envelope. Just
to make doubly sure, both Forum
and the Historians have sug-
gested an amendment to the act
so the first step can be a dis
passionate report by a 'front.'
rank architect