Evening star., 1902-04-12
RUDDEN'S

quarters have been va Gated and torn down,
and, because of unforeseen complications.
no steps have been taken toward the erec-
tion of a new building. The act has, by
common consent of the executive officers.
remained uneXecuted. and the Department
of Justice is located in private quarters
not suited for the purpose and for which
high rent is paid. The principal difficulty
in the way of executing the act of March
g.. 1899, was the inadequate appropriation.
It was found that 81 900, 600. the limit of
cost fixed in the act was not sufficient to
construct a building adapted for the pur-
pose.
THE Attorney General asked for an in
crease Of the limit to 81 100000, but Con-
gress did not deem 1t advisable to increase
it, and the officers charged with executing
the law regarded 1t wise to wait until such
time Congress in It's judgment should
see fit to provide more money than to erect
a building that must prove insufficient to
meet even the immediate needs of the de-
partment and which made no provision for
the future. A letter from the Attorney
General is appended to this report.
War and Navy.
"As suggested elsewhere, by providing
for the State Department in the new build
ing. the War and Navy Department will be
enabled to occupy to good advantage the
space thus to be vacated. The increase In
the official and clerical forces Of these two
departments has been such during recent
years that both are greatly congested and
urgently require additional accommoda-
ticns The condition in the Navy Depart
ment has become so serious that the Sec
retary of the Navy recently created board
to investigate and report upon the neces-
sity of additional space. The report OF the
board shows that more space Is imperative.
ly required The letter of the Secretary or
the Navy Is appended hereto.
1.-THE letter of the Secretary Of War ap-
pended to this report directs attention to
90 Va M
partment and shows that the health Of the
employees is endangered by existing condt-
tions, and that the convenient and ready
dispatch of the public business Is inter-
fered with Corridors are occupied by
clerks and public documents to the con-
fusion and embarrassment Of the public
service
erected the space occupied by the State
Department Is divided between the War
and Navy Departments in proportion to
their respective forces 1t would enable the
War Department" says the Secretary of
War, "to give up some Of its rented build
ings and relieve it's present overcrowded
condition in that building. 1t is obvious
that the War and Navy Departments will
not be fully accommodated by the removal
of the State Department, as contemplated.
but they each will be enabled to secure
some considerable measure OF relief"
The cost of other public buildings Is given
to show that the proposed structure is
within reasonable limit of cost. and the
long time required to erect such buildings
is commented on a reason for promptly
beginning the work.
1T may be we'll to remember the report
continues. that In providing for the actual
needs of the government service In the ac-
companying bill the building proposed Is in
entire harmony with the plans of the park
commission for the permanent Improvement
of Washington. as Is shown by letter
from Senator Mcmillan. chairman of the
committee on the District of Columbia.
which is appended to this report. 1t should
be borne in mind. however, that the buili-
ing to be erected is not to be constructed
for the purpose of promoting such plans
or committing the government to them III
any measure The scofnmittee merely ad-
verts to the fact that, in acquiring the site
proposed to meet the immediate and i'm
perative necesstiesaof the public service
the property acquired will be in harmony
with and not contrary to the plans men,
toned. and that Should such plans be ap-
proved in the future nothing VIII have been
done under the pending bill which will con-
fiict with or impair them in any respect
A Public, Necessity.
1.-THE rapid growth of the country has
naturally greatly increased the necessity
for additional 1;aecommodations for the
transaction of the public business In Wash
irgton. This is perfectly manifest to every
one who has had to do with public affairs
Efficiency and economy require that the
facilities should be at all times adequate. /
A prudent and successful business con-
Germ keeps pace with its expanding neces-
stiles. but the government has pursued
contrary policy and almost every de-
partment in Washington is greatly
crowded. and private property Is occupied
and has been occupied for many years in
various portions of the city to accommo-
date the overflow. II the government were
to spend reasonable amount annually to
provide for the Increasing and reasonable
requirements of its own business. the
amount would seem to be comparatively
small. but when. the necessities are allowed
to accumulate the appropriations when
finally made seem to be unnecessarily
large Delay in making needed improve
ments is not wise economy. They must
ultimately be made and when made the
government must pay the enhanced cost of
property required therefor.
Poor Policy to Rent Quarters.
'It is poor policy for tbs government to