Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-12-24
WARNING TO HONOLULU.

Citizens Of Honolulu who think OBJ
tanning an appropriation for Federal
buildings is such an easy matter that
they can AFFORD 10 wrangle over the
site will do well TO read the following
from the Washington ID. c. Times:
The reluctance OF Congress 70 vote
new public buildings for Washington
has long been proyerbial. Government
business must far outgrow the faeili-
ties offered for its transaction before
the first steps are taken to relieve the
resulting Inconvenience and conges-
ton. One department after another
pleads with hope deferred for quarters
ample enough TO shelter and accom-
modate its constantly increasing force
of workers. BY dint of repeated eff
fort an additional building is occasion
ally secured. But by the time It is
ready for occupancy the needs Of the
service have again expanded and the
Old overflow problem has to be faced
afresh.
The penny-wise, pound-foolish char
acter Of this policy scarcely needs to
be demonstrated. One consequence Of
II is the dispersion OF single depart
ment's forces under many roofs, and a
resulting increase from year to year
in the Governments private rental ac-
count According TO its own figures
the Government pays now as rent for
the many Office and other buildings II
occupies, in whole or in part, $4,000
annually. After FebruarY / next II
will be paying 100000.
The Treasury has shown In recent
years its ability TO borrow money at
as low a rate of interest US per cent.
Calculated on that basis the capital
represented by the Governments an
nual rental outlay would be $4,000, 900.
But probably half to two-thlrds OF that
sum would suffice to house in manner
worthy of a rich and powerful nation
the bureaus and divisions now forced
10 seek the hospitality of private land
lords
II is only three or four years since
the new Postoffice Building was fin
ished and opened. Yet already the
Postoffice Department has been forced
TO go outside for needed room, and 1t
is now paying annual rental for out
side quarters amounting to S19,S00.
The Interior Department fell heir to
the vacated Postoffice Departments
building. But even with that expan-
sion it still spends ss1 800 for rent
The Department OF Justice Is a
wanderer and an exile, having no hab-
itatlon which can by any stretch OF
courtesy be called its own. The State,
War and Navy Building is overcrowd-
ed, and the War Department alone will
soon be paying $7l,9OO for rooms and
buildings outside.
Il is true that the Department OF Ag-
ricultuTe, which now spends but $l1 800
in rentals, is soon to have new and
fitting home. But the fact remains
that no single branch of the Govern
ment service, Congress perhaps except
ed, enjoys accommodations which al
low the work with which it is charged
to be done with the maximum of eff
cheney or comfort.
New buildings are demanded by
every consideration OF forethought and
economy. Fortunately they can now
be made to At the general scheme of
Identification along whose lines Wash
ington is to grow into worlds cap
ital OF SURPRISING beauty. Under
Speaker Cannon's rule in the House
the next Congress will make anything
but spendthrift record, yet It could
authorize no wiser expenditure than