New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-27

inmates OF the Secretary OF Agriculture and will
only permit Of the erection OF building which by
me une 1t is completed will prove inadequate
Tor this growing department to render necessary
the rental OF as much private property as is now
required TO house its various bureaus.
The Department OF Justice IS CHARTERED entirely
IN residences rented for the purpose. and the use
OF which is naturally attended with grave incon-
Fenienoe and unnecessary expense The War De-
partment, while occupying its share of the State.
War and Navy Building is also obliged to rent
numerous outside buildings for office purposes as
Is the Navy Department which pays $4,000 a year
for the use of single building erected cor it's
by a private owner. Tho census Office Is in
building owned by private Citizens. aid many other
instances might be cited
OF course, the scattering or a single department
through many buildings, often several squares
away from the main offices. delays the transac-
ton of public business, and adds materially to the
expense of conducting the various Offices. while
contributing TO lack Of discipline and order which
would be largely avoided all the offices OF each
department gathered beneath a single roof But
there IS a more potent for abandoning the
Tar 3omtnatnd Congress- In it, failure to pToyide
adequate accommodations for the depar ments over
which ii exercises almost supreme control
1t is conservatiyely estimated that the sum paid
by the government rents amounts 10 not less
than 10 per CEN of the whoe value OF the property
Assuming this estimate TO De correct the Naiue OK
the property rented by the government must be
can borrow money to an almost unlimited amount
at per cent. II, therefore this sum
mems even though Il should be necessary to issue
bonds TO raise the amount, the interest would
amount to only $6S247. annual saving OF SZISO0J
apart from the increased convenience and efficiency
to be secured by providing suitable accommodations
for the departments Those members of Congress
who this view OF the situation urge that, while
the Of maintenance of such buildings would
fall The government the steady increase OF land
values would more than o1set the contingent a
penseS which might be incurred
In striking contrast with the policy pursued by
Congress in its treatment OF the executive depart
ends are b iIG @ ebr of nre o
the purchase of sites and the erection of buildings
for this purpose Congress has appropriated S. S00
of which S3S60000 will be devoted to the office
building Representatives, and 50 00000 that
for Senator's. The necessity for erecting such
buildings must be obvious to every visitor who
inspects the subterranean chambers used
offices and committee rooms by members of Con-
gress, but il IS also evident that The struct-
projected on a generous scale, while every
provision made for executive Offices IS designed
opposite basis.
1t is freely predicted that no public building bill
viii be permitted to become a law at the present
session of Congress. because of the determination
Of the leaders to restrict the expenses of the gov
eminent to the receipts, but 1t Is doubtful II the
public fully appreciated the facts that there would
be the slightest criticism Of policy which aimed
at proper housing of the executive departments,
although a special issue OF bonds proved
necessary to accomplish the desired end At least
that is the view taken by son,e members of Con-
gress who Intend to urge their views the
leaders at the first opportune moment
1t is even argued that bond issue OF $4,000 900
900 would be welcomed by host OF small
investors, who would thus have opportunity to
secure gilt edged" investment for their small
savings, while additional reason urged for such
a policy is that in the absence Of public build
ing bill at this session. the Supervising Architect
terially retain considerable part OF 1t In idle