Evening star., 1869-12-01
fCBLIC BUILDINGS.
Report Of Supervising Architect VI uI
Cheap Labor ~. Poor Labor.

Nne0p Labor ~. fOOF Labor.
A. r. Mullett. ESQ., Supervising Architect Of
tho Treasury Department, in his annual report,
Just finished, says that the business OF his office
has greatly increased during the pas; year, not
only in the number and importance OF the build
ings NJ course OF construction, which are large
" In excess OF any previous pericJ in it, his
tory. cut from the assignment OF neu duties and
from other causes, the duties of this office are
not generally understood. Thew pow embrace
the purchase, sale, and supervision OF all real
estate belonging TO, or under the custody of the
treasury Department, excepting lighthouse
pIoPertyi the preparation OF designs, estimates
and specifications Ter buildings; the supervision
ofShefr constructions the repairs and Improve
ment, the furnishing, lighting. and heating of
those alressy completed; and tie construction
ana supply Of all vaults and safes used by the
department.
The relert says :-'.Great embarrassment Ia.
been experienced by the system OF partial and
insufficient appropriations heretofore adented
for the erection or completion of public works
1t parafrzes the action or the department by
compelling it To make contracts Tor supply OF
materials piece-meai. increases the contingent
expenditures by causing frequent suspensions.
and delays the government in the use OF the
bulldmg, thereby compelling the payment OF
rental for temporary accommodations, besides
sinking the interest on the amount expended
There would be very decided advantages in
changing this manner OF making appropriations.
The sum determined upon BY Congress after
careful consideration OF the estimates, the
limit of expenditures for completing the work,
should at once be placed AZ the siifposai of the
Secretary, to be expended as fast as the neces-
sites Of the work demand"
THE TREASURY EXTENSION.
After speaking of the completion OF the north
wing Of the Treasury bHilding and the improve
ments in the other wings, Mr.. Mullett says:
81 desire TO renew my recommendation that
the skylight, so ingeniously introduced behind
south nOrticO he mp Wi fh.l
original design carried out, or the depth of the
portico reduced to that OF the north front. i
would also strongly recommend that the insight
ly driveway, that 50 seriously impajrs the beauty
OF the west front, be removed, and the area re-
dsced to a proper width. This would also enable
the construction, at a slight expense, of the ad-
ditfonal coal vaults that are required. An under
ground passage for the removal OF ashes, &c, is
also much needed. Some minor changes to i'm
prove the ventilation Of the building are re-
2 allred which would greatly increase the cOm-
iert and health Of its occupants. j would
strongly recommend that this fine building be
completed by the rebuilding of the old east
front. The stone Of which il is constructed is
rapidly decOmposing; its rooms are small, ill
It must at no distant day be reconstructed, and
the entire structure completed in suitable and
satisfactory manner.
desire to renew my recommendations for the
condemnation Of a strip OF land on the east side
of 18th street, between New York and Penns VI
wanna avenues, and the lowering of the grade Of
treasury grounds. believing that is the cheapest
aud most satisfactory solution of the difficult
problem presented BY the unfortunate location
Of THUS magnificent bufllmg. have carefully
considered the subject, and can see no other
remedy that would prove effectually, save rails
ing the building to the level OF the avene
on the north, which. though practicable,
would be more costly. and D believe les
satisfactory in its results The earth that
would he obtained by the excavation is
mach needed for the improvement OF the
reservation Immediately south Of the grounds
would be worth nearly or quite the cost of re-
mOval In this connection ] desire to call slpe-
Executive MsSsSn. now in prsTess Ds Gu 1ndes des
Brigadier General y. Michler. Superintendent
Of Public Buildings and Grounds, and to express
hope that sufhcient appropriation will be madJ
to enable him to complete Executive avenue
and continue the improvements so admirably
commenced, by converting the various reserva-
tOas that now extend from the Executive
Mansion TO the Capitol into a continuous park
which can be done at a merely nominal expense"
CHEAP LABOR POOR LABOR
After reviewing the condition of the various
custom-houses, &c, throughout the country, the
report concludes as follows:
1.-The additional labOrs imposed upon this office
during the past year have been transacted with
but slight increase in the clerical force, and il
gives me great pleasure to bear testimony to the
general efficiency, fidelity, and willingness of the
employees OF this office. In this connection
desire once more to call attention to the made
Quate compensation paid, and to urge as strongly
as possible that the salaries paid by the Govern
ment should be at least equal to those allowed
by private parties for similar duties. Cheap la
Dor, as a rule, is poor labor, and the Govern
ment will find in a series OF years that IL obtains
no more than it pays for.
1t cannot be expected that EN- plOyes who are
underpaid, and thereby denied the means OF
providing Tor their families in a proper manner
will be Jealous for the interests of the govern
ment, or feel themselves called upon 70 make
any unusual exertiOns i'm its behalf Ii is no
evidence that the salaries at present paid are
sufficient to point to the long list Of applications
or the number Of candidates The latter, ad-
nit, are sufficiently numerous, but respectfully
submit that the government has no right to
avail itself Of the poverty or incOmpetency of
these applicants in fixing its scale of wages
do not hesitate to assert that If the salaries
were sufficiently increased to secure the services
OF competent, reliable, and efficient gentlemen
in al branches, that a reduction In the number
OF employees could be made more than sufficient
TO meet the advance in the salaries of those
retained. Cnderpaid and dissatisfied clerks are
certainly more easily tampered with than those
who are properly renumerated, and who feel
that their positions are honorable and desirable,
and believe that the present illiberal scale of
prices tends direct to promote fRud and en-
courage incompetency."