Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-21
Works Group
Willing 10 Rule.
'0nCapito| Issue
BerIu Seeks Hearing
For Opponents Of
Eost Front Project
ny GRACE BASSETT /
star star Writer

9Net HtAM Wtttuf
Senate and House Public
Works Subcommittee chairfnen
Indicated today they would be
glad to settle the question
Of extending the east front Of
the Capitol.
So far this session, the con-
troversial extension has been
considered the business Of q
Joint Congressional Commits
sion for the extension Of the
Capitol.
But Commission Chairman
Rayburn. Speaker Of the House.
has ignored pleas for hearings
for opponents Of the plan. ac-
cording 70 Julian z. Berla.
chairman Of Q newly formed
COMMITTEES 10 Preserve the Ma
ti0nal Capitol. He asked the
works units 10 take over by
calling hearings Of their own
on the building program.
Mr.. Berla. II q letter TO COM
mittee chairnien. urged prompt
action or 1T will be too late
TO save the beautiful East
Front facade approved by
George Washington in 1884,"
willing 70 Set Hearing
In reply to Mr.. Berla. SEN
ator Mcnamara. Democrat Of
Michigan. Works Public Build
lngs Subcommittee chairman.
said he would be willing TO
schedule q hearing. Representa-
tive Jones. Democrat Of Ala
bama. who heads the parallel
group in the House. assured Mr..
Berla time 10 state his cause
~ hearings are set"
Speaker Rayburn. as chair
man Of the joint commission.
early this month turned thumbs
down on plans to extend the
Capitol's west front this session.
And he has declined to set q
commission meeting to fix the
fate Of the east front proposal.
This major change would
move the east front 32.2 feet
forward to line Up the center
lsteps Of the Capitol with the
Senate and House wings. At Q
total cost Of tli0 million. the
project would clear space for
more Offices and restaurants
inside.
Question Complicated
The question Of whether the
commission q ahe Public Works
Cclnmittees shOnld r,ila on the
Iplan. WIN determine whether
mr.. Berias new bid Is satisfied,
committee aides said.
That question Is complicated
by q lack Of legislative authori-
sation for the east front extern
sion. Building Is called for IN
an appropriations oct which set
aside SIT million for the project
two years ago. At that time.
the commission was formed to
oversee the job.
Capitol Architect George
Stewart Is awaiting q commits
sion go-ahead TO put construc-
ton crews TO work. He would
mot comment today on the
prudence Of public works hear
ingS. His reports on Capitol
improvements are to be cham
neled exclusively to the COM
mission. he said.
Meanwhile. architectural and
congressional opponents have
piled up proposals to stop Mr..
Stewart In Public Works Com
mittees.
Pending before the Senate
unit Is q bill introduced BY
Senator Smith. Republican Of
New Jersey. and Endorsed by
Senator's Case. Republican Of
New Jersey: Clark. Democrat
Of Pennsylvania. and Hum
phrey. Democrat Of Minnesota.
It would pull out Of the Appro-
priations Act language reQuir-
ing the 32.2-foot extension OF
the east front.
Four House bills are before
Its Public Works Committee.
All would either repeal the east
front clause or amend the act
to have the same effect. These
bills were referred to Mr..
Stewart for q report last Au-
gust. according to stan records.
No report has been received.