The Washington times., 1902-12-06
BIG RENT ROLL OF
THE GOVERNMENT

and Madison Place was repealed The
site IS not considered sufficiently cX-
tensive for the erection Of such a build
ing as rs required by the department. AT
the same time there has been some dis
cussiou Of the subject of erecting a
building for the department which viii
also be a home for the Supreme Court
OF the United States.
Attorney General Knox now has his
Office in the building at 1875 X street,
once a private residence. and later a
hotel. The rIilding adjoining. formerly
the Lowery mansion. is also used. The
other Offices Of the department are in
the Bond Building and in the building
at Jackson Place The old CoTcOran
Art Gallery. occupied by the Court OF
Claims was formerly rented by the Gov
eminent and afteTwaTd purchased at a
cost Of $335,000. -..---
PostOfdce Department.
Notwithstc ding the fact that the new
Postofiice building was completed less
than four years ago. il is found neces-
sary for the department to pay nearly
$4,000 annually for rentals to private
owners Soon after it's occupancy IL was
necessary 20 acquire additional room in
private buildings. The rapid growth OF
the rural free delivery system is re-
spOnsible for the rental OF office room
outside the departments own struc -ure.
The depsrt-lent now pays $500 for the
use OF rooms in the Star Building. oppo-
site the Postomce.
The POstOffice building was construct
ed by the Treasury Department under
the act OF June 30. 1890. and was trans
ferred 20 the PostofIice Department on
September 80. 1889. The site cost the
Government S65l.215 and the building
$2.555. .S35.
In fact. the amount OF money upon
which the Government is annually paw
ing interest in the shape of rentals 90
private owners would be sufficient to
purchase sites and erect TWO such build
iugs as the new POstofiCc department
L. would also erect seven buildings. earn
equaline In cost the Pension Office build
ing.
Ever since the beginning or the Span
ish-AmerIcan war. when iJ became nee
essary 10 establish new bureaus In the
War Department, that department has
been crowded for space. Notwithstanding
the fact that Il had for some years rent
cd a number of buildings in the vicinity
of the department. When the Mills
Building Is completed O portion OF &
will be occupied by the division OF in
sglar affairs which VIII make more
room for the expansion of other divisions
or the department.
The Government has from time to time
purchased a number of buildings not
originally designed for It's use.
The Butler Building. formerly the
home OF the late Benjamin i. Butler.
opposite the Capitol On New Jersey Ave
nue.. was purchased on April TO- 1891. az
cost or $4,000. II is now used by the
Marine Hospital Bureau and the Coast
and Geodetic Survey The Richards
Building. adjoining. on New Jersey Ave
nue., was purchased on september 2l.
1891 az a cost of Sl55 .O00 aud is also
used by The Coast and Geodetic Survey.
The W.ndgr Building on Seventeenth
Street. used by the Treasury Depar-lsn-
as the ONCE OF the Auditor for the Var
Department was built by private enter
prise and purchased by The Government
I'm 1854 at q cost OF 500. 600.
The establishment of independent
executive bureaus ard commi ssious has
also mude g. necessary for the Govern
lsut r0 lease q number of private build
iuca There Is now no general building
where such bureaus could Doe housed 20
save the Government the expense OF
rent Tho Interstate Commerce Com.
mission pays more than $4,000 year
for the us. OF rooms In the Sun Build
ing on T. Street. and the Department %
Labor rents quarters iu the bank build
ink al New York Avenue and Fifteenth
Street for which it pays annually. $6.75e.
The buflifuE al PENNSYLVANIA Avenue