Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-26
PUBLIC BUILDING METHODS.

The report that President Harrison ha.
notified the members of Congress that halt
must be called upon the broadcast distri
button of public building jobs, is at present
no more than one of the straws in the wind
of political gossip; but it is indicative of a
step that is necessary to preserve any repu-
tation of respect for principle, in the methods
of government.
Hardly any more remarkable expose OF
the tn cory of dividing the public plunder
which prevails in the majority of appropria-
tions of this sort, could be given, than was
openly presented in the House recently. A
member from California, whose name would
otherwise have been unknown to fame,
pleaded when his public building job met
with some opposition, that he had voted for
every other job of the sort, and he did not
think the members ought to go back on him
now. The argument was convincing one to
the House. 1t is on exactly such logic
that bills scattering public buildings broad
cast down to such places as Amsterdam,
n. Y; Arkansas City, Bridgeton, N. j.;
Camden Ark, Houlton, Me-; and score
of equally important villages, and appro-
priating S25,OOO,OOO or S3O,OO0,O0O. have
either been passed or reported favorably in
one branch or the other of the present Con-
gress.
1t is not to be understood because the log
rolling methods of building grabbing, are
exposed that a broad and liberal policy of
building Government Offices wherever they
are needed, is antagonized. Legislators
who are anxious to see the public funds ex
pended impartially for the benefit of the
whole public would find it easy to frame
general law under which the Treasury
should expend money for buildings at every
city where the fixed standards of bust
ness should require. A certain amount of
postal and revenue business might authorize
building OF one grade, an increase of that to
a certain standard could raise the grade ;and
the establishment of given ratio of growth
could be permitted to justify given in
crease in the size and cost of the buildings.
This would provide buildings at all points
where the business calls for them, and in
accordance with business principles.
But the jobbery that grows out of the
archaic methods Especial legislation which
prevail in Congress has one of its most
striking illustrations in the grotesque re-
suits of the public building log-rolling.
The buildings are not located in accordance
with economic requirements, but such OBJ
scure places as South Bend, Ind; Spring
field, Mo-; Grand Haven, Mich; and a score
of others get $50, 900 to S100,0O buildings
when $500 to 81, 900 annual rent will furnish
ample accommodation for their postal busi-
ness. The amounts are not apportioned
even with a view to the relative Importance
of the cities. Sioux City, Ia, gets twice
as much as Allegheny City and Kansas
City gets million dollars more than Pitts
burg. Such cases could be extended ad
ininitum; but these illustrations sufficiently
show that the influences which distribute
public building are the importantly, greed
and skill at Iog-rolling of the members who
are able to secure the biggest plums.
1t is certainly time for the President to
call halt on the wholesale distribution of
public funds on such lines as these. The
whole thing is an example of the vice of
spe cial legislation. The same thing
appears in the admission of States which
ought to be done in accordance with fixed
rules of population and development, but
really is done for motives of partisan ad-
vantage. When Congress rises to the plane
of prescribing general principles on which
public buildings shall be located in accord
ance with the requirements of business,
the erection of such buildings can be made
public benefit. Carried on as it is, it is a
scandalous illustration of recognized and