Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-24
THE NEW DEPARTMENT
SECRETARY CONTIGUOUS ESTI-
MATES SENT TO CONGRESS-
He Wants $1,000, 600 for Suitable
Building-aovernment's Costly
Experience.

Secretary Cortelyou has asked Congress
for appropriations aggregating $S575, 600 Tor
the new Department of Commerce and
Labor The main item in the estimates Is
for a new building for the department. for
which 100000 Is asked. For the support
of the department during the remainder OF
the present fiscal year and for the whole OF
the next, the amount asked u $l,O75OOO
Besides this, $500. 900 is asked for printing
for the next fiscal year. 1t Is explained in
the estimates. which are transmitted by
Secretary Shaw, that of the fifteen bureaus
which go to make up the new department,
twelve are now located In other depart
ments and the appropriation for their sup
port has already been made
Mr.. Cortelyou divides his estimate OF
81 .075 600 for running expenses under the
following general heads: Salaries, 5000 900:
rent. $4,000; contingent expenses. $1oOOOO:
travelling expenses Of examiners, $1JOOOo;
printing 100000.
The Proposed Building.
Mr.. Cortelyou goes into the subject of
building for his department In great detail.
On this subject he says, in part:
EAT the beginning of the coming fiscal
year the Department of Commerce ana
Labor will consist of twelve organizations.
transferred to 1t from other branches OF
the public service, two new bureaus, ana
the office proper of the Secretary-in all,
fifteen organized offices.
THE annual rent during the current fiscal
year for only four Of these organizations
department of labor, census office. bureau
of statistics and light house board) amounts
to SABA. Rented quarters are now pro-
yided or soon must be provided for nine of
the remaining organizations In the Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor.
"On July the Department OF Commerce
and Labor will employ in the city of Wash
iugton about 1900 men and women. Inc
pre else number cannot be stated until the
new bureaus have been organized
Looking to the Future.
1.-The site to be secured should not only
suffice for the structure required to house
under one roof the branches Of the public
service to be assembled in July under the
Secretary Of Commerce and Labor, but
should be ample for extensions Of the edi-
fee from time to time. in harmony with
original plans. and with requirements OF
the increasing artistic sense of the people.
The building for the Department or Com
merce and Labor at the national capital, 1t
is suggested, should be 80 planned In ad-
vance as to be not inferior in convenience
or beauty to the structures which CONNER
cial and financial institutions In the great
centers of American trade are erecting for
the transaction of their daily business. 1t
should be designed on scale large enough
to provide for the reasonable growth for
some years to come Of the various branches
of the public service, comprising at the out
set the department, and to supply quarters
for such other branches Of the service as
by creation or transfer may hereafter be
brought under its Jurisdiction.
1T should have at least one hall suitable
for conferences or congresses. international
or national. which. by invitation Of the gov
Of fho Trif cd tot ho1y in,
this country In the past. and doubtless here
after will assemble frequently at Washing
ton. To secure Light and ventilation, inner
courts open to the sky are necessary. The
edifice should be fireproof
Cost Of Department Buildings.
'4The treasury building cost 81 $50 $40, but
Is already inadequate for the needs OF that
department. which this year. according to
the estimates. will spend 1854 in rents for
outside offices. The State. War and Navy
building will cost $1O.O71, 918. but the de-
partments it houses will this year spend
$25, 2G0 for rented offices. and more offices
must be secured for the coming fiscal year.
The patent office cost $3,652. 7O5. but this
year the Interior Department will be re-
CURED to spend $sO.6sO for rented buildings
(including $26.6SO for the census office.
Transferred to the Department Of Commerce
and Labor. The new post office cost 50 $685.
400. but from the beginning was inadequate
TOT tn6 fOSt ONHCe Department., winch this
year will spend $50, 4O6 for rented offices.
Provision for Extension.
Probably none of the department build
ings mentioned could be enlarged without
a departure from original plans SO radical
as to destroy its symmetry and thus to for
bid such enlargement. Had the growth
of the business of the country and of these
departments been foreseen. doubtless at the
outset larger sites and different plans would
have been provided. On the other hand, In
the case of the Capitol. built and extended
for SIT OH $40, increased accommo lions
In consonance with original plans at cost
OF about $6.O0OOO0 are now proposed. In
the case Of the Library of Congress, recent
ly completed at a cost of 1920, 0S1, such
extensions are also possible.
Il earnestly recommend. therefore. that
Congress provide for the construction of a
building for the Department OF Commerce
and Labor to cost exclusive of the site, the
sum OF 81 100000
To Buy a Site.
Mr.. Bankhead of Alabama, a member Of
the buildings and grounds committee, yes
terday introduced in the House a bill au-
thorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to
secure as a site for a building for the new
do