Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-15

Tic letter which was written by Mr.. John
NJ. Carrere to Secretary Carlisle. deciin-
ing the SecretaTy's proffer of the office of
Supervising Architect of the Treasury has
been potent in educating public sentiment
as to the-necessity which both the Treasury.
Department and Congress seem determined
to disregard From every section OF tie
country come reasonable and dignified pro-
tests against the unconcern which is so
freely manifested both in the executive and
legislative branches of The government as
to the unquestionably important matter of
government architecture. from the day
when the United States started out to plan
and erect structures for it's own use. down
to the present. time il has. as a rule. failed
to represent the artistic sense of the peo-
pie: notable exception is the Capitol
building-which was planned by a private
architect called to official life because of
his eminent fitness for the great task. 1t
is TO reflection on the Supervising Architect
of the Treasury to say that in the majority
of cases his buildings are architectural
monstrosities or deficiencies. frequently
lacking in what might be the redeeming
features of hygienic excellence; so long as
the present system continues the great
majority of government structures must
possible for one man to attempt. with any
hope of success. the duties which are by
law imposed upon the head of that very
important office At this time more than
hundred public buildings are either being
planned or constructed, the cost of each
ranging from $4,000 to Si.UJoO00; no sane
man who realizes the imneEAity of those
figures will insist for moment that any
one human being should try to do what the
statute and custom demand of the unfor-
tunate and too often incompetent political
architect who is given charge of govern
ment plans and construction. Debating
this subject Harpers' Weekly insists that:
1.-THE Treasury Department ought to en-
ploy the architects OF the country who are
best qualified TO do artistic and conStruc-
tional work on our public buildings. The
present system compeiS the employment or
an architect whose office must DC. in Wash
ington: who must depend upon the reports
OF Subordinates; who is therefore respons--
ibs for buildings that he may never see
who is burdened with duties that he must
neglect. Neither art nor economy is fur
thered by this state of affairs, and the
change which has been suggested in the
McKaig hill will. doubtless result in pro-
vid!ng the government with more beaGtl1ui
buildings at a lower cost.
Presented as this matter has been to a
IL is rather remarkable that nothing has
yet been done to amend this really mex
cusable condition. 1t has been proven so
satisfactorily as to be beyond the reach of
controversy that the present system is eX-
travagantly wasteful: 1t has been Gemon-
strated that under the new order of things
provided for. in the Mckaig bill the cash
saving would. he 50 great as to, of itself,
offer every inducenent for amendatory
legislation; but for the sake of political
spoils 50 dear to the hearts of a rapidly
diminishing class, there is congressional
deafness and inaction. Vigorous effort on
the part of the chairnen of the House and
Senate committees on public buildings and
grounds III make law of the McKaig
bill before this session comes to an end
VIII Representative Bankhead and Senator
Vest assume the burden of responsibility
for delay which costs the country q vast
sum of money annually and which. at the
same time. makes possible the erection of
public buildings more hideous and more
generally unsuitable than even those with
which we are now afflicted?