The evening times., 1896-01-16

Secretary Carlisle seldom has a cha pct
OF getting even.
30 he embraced the first opportunity t
tell what lie thought OF some of the action:
Of Congress. The opportunity came will
the resolution OF Senator Mitchell, intro
duced several weeks ago.
In 1891 Congress appropriated money te
| start the erection OF u public building a,
Portland, Ore. in 1895 Congress made
still another appropriation for the same
purpose, but not a stone has been laid.
When this session of Congress opened Mr
Mitchell arrived iD the city ready for gore.
He intended TO find out why that public
building had not been started. He intended
to know that OF the reason why.
At the very earliest opportunity he IN.
troduced resolution In the Senate reciting
the various appropriations made by various
congresses for public building It p urt land,
Greg. The resolution called on Mr.. Car
Isle TO advise the Senate why action had
not beeu taken and the reasons for the
delay
WAS HIS CHANCE.
This is what Mr.. Carlisle has been wait
ing for for several years. He had his
chance. The opportunity had come. Con-
gress passes appropriations and there is
no money. 1t wants public buildings, and
will not give the Secretary a chance, so he
started out to tell the Senate so.
He admits the charges made in the reso-
luton. lie finds it true that there had been
three appropriations made and mat the
limit of the cost OF the building was TO be
S15O,O0O. He denies nothing, ard feels
dead sure there will not be surplus
turned back into the Treasury some day.
Having thus admitted all The charges
filed against him, Secretary Carlisle says:
'Ou the 7th Of September, 1892, the De-
partment pu released a site for the building,
but as yet no drawings have been prepared
for the reasons herein stated. At the
date OF the cOnvening OF the FifIy-first
Congress, the Congress which authorized
the public building at Portland, Greg,
there were upon the books OF this Depart
meut appropriations FOR 163 public build
ings, all of which were in various stages
of construction. That same Congress au-
thoriZcd the construction OF seventy adj
diiional public buildings and provided for
the extension OF seven marine hospitals,
at an aggregate limit or cost OF S12 2,916,-
SOFT.
THE Fifty-second and Fifty-third Con-
crosses authorized altogether the construc.
ton Of twelve additional public buildings
and improvements to five marine hospitals
and other structures, at a limit Of cost
OF S5,S43, 900, making an aggregate of
ninety-four buildings authorized to be con-
siructed and improved. at n cost OF $1s,-
159, ,S90.T7, which, in addition to the
163 buildings above referred to. make
total of 257 buildings upon whiGh con-
struction operationass>Ss oS1n In progress
since Decessoer, 1889, OF which number
',iitfe are at this time twenty-five buildings
for which no drawings have been prepared.
1T has been the general practice OF the
Department TO begin work upon the various
public buildings in the order OF their author
ization by Congress, and under this practice
there remain six buildings which claim pri-
ority over the public building at Portland,
Ore.
notwithstanding the large number OF
public buildings authorized by Congress,
10 increase in the force of the office of the
supervising architect has been provided for.
although a specific request to the Committee
Oh Appropriations OF the House of Repre-
sentatives was made 10y this depa rtment on
January 20. S95, that the amount allotted
for that office for the fiscal year ending
June 80. 500, should be increased from
$500 ,0o0 to S250,O00; the reason given
being that such an increase was necessary
In order to enable the department to EN-
ploy a sufficient technical force to bring the
work up to date. This request. however,
was not complied with, and the usual al
lowance OF $500 900 was made.
''Since the 9Th of March, 500, this de-
partment has made every effort possible,
with the limited appropriation allowed by
Congress for the support of the office of the
supervising architect, to expedite the prep
aration of drawings and specifications for
the various public buildings under its con-
troll. and to take up new work as rapidly
as the force would permit, and to proceed
with the construction OF buildings with all
possible expedition.
"The sum of $500 900, which the Secre-
tary is Authorized by Congress to use dur
ing each fiscal year for the preparation of
designs, plans. specifications and draw
ings for public buildings. does not exceed
the amount of the usual charges of a COM
petent architect, for the preparation of de-
signs. plans and specifications. and super
intending the construction of a single pub