Evening star., 1958-07-08
Bill on Air Museum,
Blocked in House
No Plan Made
ToHoId Hearing
This Session

Legislation TO build the pro-
posed National Air Museum of
the Smithsonian Institution on
the Mall foundered on two
scores today.
Representative Jones, Demo-
crat of Alabama, chairman Of
the House Public Buildings
Subcommittee, said he did not
plan to hold hearings on the
museum legislation before Con-
gress adjourns.
And Representative Hyde,
Republican of Maryland, asked
Congress yesterday to ear
mark the Old Pension Building
as the site, a move which could
block construction on the Mall
If successful.
A bill calling for the Mall
location passed the Senate June
26 after barely escaping death
when Senator Beall, Republi-
can of Maryland, proposed es-
tablishing the building at the
College Park (Md.) airport.
No Objections
Mr., Jones said he had no
particular objections to legis-
lation for the air museum, but
he pointed out that the Smith
sonian recently received $3s
million for a Museum Of His
tory and Technology. He OBJ
served that things have to be
taken by degrees"
Representative Cannon, DEM
ocrat of Missouri, a co-sponsor
of the House bill to put the
museum on the Mall and also
a regent of the Smithsonian,
said he would not press for
House action in view of the
shortage of time.
I'VE would like to have gone
ahead" he said, but it Is so
late in the session."
Favor Mall Site
Another co-sponsor, Repre-
sentative Brooks, Democrat Of
Louisiana, said he would ask
Chairman Jones to hold hear
ings this session. Both Mr..
Brooks and Mr.. Cannon said
they favored the Mall site over
the Hyde proposal for con-
version Of the old Pension
Building.
I'VE have a great flood Of
school children who go to the
museum. noted Mr.. Brooks.
"Our buildings should be
grouped for the benefit of the
children and all visitors, as well
as for administration"
Mr.. Jones indicated he would
press for hearings on the pro-
posed legislation to locate a
national cultural center in
Foggy Bottom.
Sees $40 Million Saving
Mr.. Hyde said the Pension
Building, on the downtown
block bounded by Fourth and
Fifth and F and g streets NV,
would provide a perfect loca-
ton for the Air Museum"
At the same time, he said. the
estimated cost of $40 million
for constructing a new building
would be saved.
Built in 1885 as a war me-
moral, the Pension Building
is three stories high. A large
central hall is surrounded by
unheated galleries and topped
by an enormous glass and tin
roof.
The scene of inaugural balls
from Cleveland to Taft, the
building is regarded as a WASH
ington landmark.
Mall Site Opposed
1t is set two blocks from the
Old Patent Office. already
transferred by Congress to the
Smithsonian Institution for use
as contemporary Art museum.
Mr.. Hyde said opposition to
the Mall site by cultural groups
both in and out of Washington
had grown in recent weeks.
! Location of the museum in
the Pension Building would
preserve the Mall for uses more
in keeping with its character. +"
he said. MY bill would have
the virtue of preserving this
site and at the same time plac-
ing the Air Museum where it
really belongs"
/ The Senate-passed museum
measure originally was in con-
flict with a bill to set a National
Cultural Center on the Mall.
Senate committeeman. in a
compromise to save both the
museum and the center. recon-
mended relocating the center in
Foggy Bottom. The cultural
center bill also is pending be-