The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-03-13
GOVERNMENT PAYS
HIGH RENT BILLS
Fairbanks Plan for Buildings
Failed Of Passage, So Thou
sands Go to Owners.
ENORMOUS RENTALS ARE
PAID OUT ANNUALLY
Priceless Records of the Govern
ment Are in Danger of De-
struction.
BY w. w. Jermane.

BY w. w. Jermane.
Washington, March 1S.-v Vice
President fairbanks left the senate
without securing action on the bill he
introduced early in the first session Of
the Fifty eighth congress providing for
new building to house the depart
ments Of state, commerce and labor, and
justice. The senate preferred to let
things run along in the same old way.
Appropriations for rent for the gov
eminent department. for the coming
fiscal year aggregate $173,280. This
rental charge now amounts to about 4
per cent on $4,500,000 annually, and is
steadily growing.
As chairman of the senate commit
contended it WAS the part Of wise bust
ness management for the government to
rent. The Bill he proposed would not
have entirely solved the question, but
it would have reduced the annual rental
charge to an inconspicuous item. Under
his plan the departments of state, COM
have been housed UNDERGONE roof, the
new department building to be located
across Pennsylvania avenue from the
War, State and Navy building.
On Warren's Shoulders.
Senator Warren of Wyoming, who will
succeed Mr.. Fairbanks as chairman of
the committee, will now have to deal
: with the question, but unless conditions
change several years will come and go
before he convinces the senate that the
government employees should be taken
out Of rented quarters. The house Of
Representatives has been for years in
favor of a policy that will put a stop
to rent waste, but it is powerless to do
anything until the senate attitude
changes.
Powerful local influences have no
doubt operated against every. attempt
Of congress to take care Of it's en-
ployees in it's own buildings. The com
! bination of men who are getting rich
!. out Of rentals paid by the government
!, is said to have influence not easily
overcome. A large number Of conspicu-
Gus buildings in the best part Of the
without the prospect of such profitable
business as is enjoyed under the pres
ent policy, if the rent system were
abandoned.
Where Rentals 90.
The expansion of federal affairs with
in the last ten years has driven nearly
every department to rented quarters.
Even the senate is paying $4,000 a
. year for storage rooms for it's valuable
rent bill next year viii be $5O,s0O and
the postoffice department will pay more
than $4,000 for quarters outside the
mammoth building erected few years
ago. The clerk in the rural free de-
livery department of the postal depart
ment are provided for outside the post
,, office building at an annual expense
of $l2,8OO. It will cost the war depart
ment $18,s0O next year to provide desk
room for clerks outside the war build.
ing, and even then the department. will
be cramped for room. The navy is now
;, paying $24, 500 a year for one building,
e which a farsighted capitalist erected
near the state, war and navy building.
The interior department s bill for
4 rents next year will be $59,40O. The
\ bureau of education is in a rented
building, as are the geological survey,
civil service commission, and the patent
survey Is rent charge is now $29 200.
Justice Is Tenant.
The department. of justice has been
without a home of it's own for years.
- 1t occupied two old buildings, former
private residences s Zoo a and the owners Wi4h
not not b be- long n until It will have to take
# over another old homestead or two at
such rentals as the owners may. fix
d The department of commerce and
h labor is also without a home of it's own
. A wealthy Washingtonian, foreseeine
: that the department was to be created
had the foresight to complete<a build
g g ing suited to its needs about the time
Il congress passed the creative act and
:. the department is now paying $4,000
i. year for the building. -.
% At the present rate of interest the
government by another year will be
~ paying at least 100000 year in rent;
~ for the departments, and the accommo
y, dations are third or fourth class il
= most instances.
Hall of Records.
Another plan Mr.. Fairbanks had il
q mind as chairman Of the committee OF
buildings and grounds provided for tn
erection here at the capital of build
is ing to be known as the hall of records
IS It is notorious that many Of the govern
u ment IS records are kept in insecur,
70 places, and might any day be destroyed
s. by fire. They are scattered in man,
, buildings and it is an endless task tt
K run down any Of the old and VALUABLE
IS records. The Fairbanks plan provide,
y i for the erection of a freproof buildin'
q in which the valuable records of tn
N government, to which only infrequen
$ reference is made, should be assemble,
:, and carefully guarded. Undoubtedl
~ some such plan will be approved b
u u congress eventually. Some of the dc
% = partments are now renting building
o for the storage of valuable records
- These rentals represent the interest O
a sum that would construct "a fireproo
oil building large enough to meet the pres
w emit demands.
e
rs