Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-20

The stars proposition that General
Thomas Lincoln Casey's retirement from
the active list of the army be Immediately
followed by his appointment as Supervising
Architect OF the Treasury has met with
almost unanimous approval. the only OBJ
lection being that which alleges that Gen.
Casey Is not an architect. strict con-
struction of the term would probably re-
suit in sustaining the contention, but even
when So supported the objection lacks
everything that looks like force. for Gen.
Casey's education and experience as an
engineer officer have fitted him most ad-
mirably for the position in connection with
which his name has very properly been
mentioned Under the law as il now is it
is not at all necessary that he who bears
the title of supervising architect should
himself be a rulIy-qualifed member of
noble profession in which there is such
great deal OF mediocrity. Congress has
provided-and as to the congressional in
tent there can be but one rational opinion
that the plans for public buildings may
be secured from private architects and
through an altogether desirable competitive
process. The advantages to be derived
from this neglected statute have apparently
failed OF appreciation in the Treasury De-
partment at least: for although the law
made possible vast improvement In design
and construction the plan-making machine
at the Treasury Department has continued
in constant operation-dotting the country
with fragments of construction which,
when they ultimately achieve complete
ness, will not be ereditable to any CT the
persons concerned in their necessary but
Iong-delayed erection. Gen. Casey is pre-
emnentIy the man to supervise operations
un-er the law which the Treasury Depart
ment so unreasonably affects to despise.
Partisan considerations would cut no figure
In his calculations nor would he be moved
TO neglect his duty to the public by those
political Influences now so potent in shield
ing from deserved punishment those who
directly and indirectly are responsible for
what in fairness cannot be termed other
wise than a nationally -disgraceful state of
affairs Possessed of excellent judgment,
Gen. Casey would have difficulty in
selecting thoroughly Unsatisfactory plans
from among the many that would he sub
mitted for each building, and when a de-
cision had been reached as to design, the
generals ability to make contractors live
up to the terms of their agreements would
speedily be in evidence. A time limit
equitable, and allowing for minor con-
tinSencies-would be set, and 1t is safe to
say that the building would be complete
when the day named as the last perms
sible arrived. The work would be well
done. too, and-a consideration not to be
despised-it would be done for the sum of
money named in the bill authorizing the
construction of the edifice. To those who
are acquainted with the methods that have
obtained and that are still in vogue in the
supervising architects Office so much of
reform at one time will seem well-nigh
impossible, but those who know Gen.
Casey are confident beyond expression of
his forceful willingness to overturn the
wrong and set up the right; all that is
asked is an opportunity. Technically
speaking, Gen. Casey may not be an
architect, but II he cannot do better in the
architect business than any real architect
who ever occupied the position for which
Gen. Casey has been popularity nominated,
then those who hold fast to the idea of his
superiority are grievously mistaken