Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-15

Secretary Gage is to be CONGRATULATED
upon the measures which have recently
been taken TO effect practical reorgan-
izatioH of the building bureau of his de-
partment. AS far as they have gone the
changes ordered in that branch of the ser
vice seem to be dictated by a desire to
modeIniZe the methods in vogue and to
prevent the continuation of abuses which
have grown up through the years, with the
result that the construction of a govern
ment building approaches dangerously
close to positive scandal. Secretary Gage
has already taken a long step forward in
giving practical effect to the Tarsney law,
which permits the planning of public build
ings by outside architects. The New York
custom house. competitive plans for which
are to be opened in few days, will be the
first large example of the workings of this
system and the ultimate results viii doubt
less prove an effective demonstration of the
superiority of the method over that which
evolved the Washington post Office struc
ture with its architectural ugliness and lis
structural defects. But not until the prn-
ciple of the Tarsney law IS carried through
the entire service will the government 5
construction work be satisfactory. Mean
while the administrative agencies afforded
by the treasury'S bureau require remodel
ing to conform to the altered situation.
What is needed there is not an architects
Office but an engineer corps. composed Of
competent supervisors. capable of seeing
that the work of the architects and build
ers is thoroughly done by watching the
progress of the constructions. just do
the engineers employed on private or COM
mercial enterprises. representing the own
ers. A lot OF cumbersome, Anticipated ma
chinery might readily be cleaned out to
make room for a more harmonious and eff
fective force of scientific workers. perhaps
kept in touch with the latest thought by
means of a system Of civilian cadets or
student engineers from the best schools
and colleges and practical plants in the
country. The governments building bu-
reau, although it has meanwhile spent
many millions and directly affected the
safety and comfort of hundreds of thous-
ands of employees. not to mention the UNI
counted public, has preserved intact the
processes Of decades ago, not advancing a
step nor awaiting itself in even fair degree
of the wonderful changes in method and
materials. Secretary Gage might profit
ably devote a generous portion of his forth
coming annual report to a consideration Of
the needs of this branch of the service.
perhaps presenting suggestions which would
result in a complete reorganization upon
lines in harmony with those laid down in
the Tarsney act. By adjusting the Office
bureau to the principles and scope of that
law, by paying the head of the bureau
salary sufficient to enlist the services of a
leader among engineers-in any event
thoroughly scientific, modern thinker and
worker-by providing some degree of CO.
operation between the bureau and the tech
biological institutions and the great work
ing plants of the country and by devising a
system of supervision over the letting of
contracts which would attract the best and
most responsible firms, the Secretary would
effect a reform which would stand for
many years a monument to his apprc-
citation of the needs of the government,
reform great in its way any demand
ed by the financial condition of the country.