Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-20
Congressional Committees
Critieisev President.
IT'S STATUS NOW WORSE.
WHY ARCHITECTS MET NO FAVOR
AT CAPITOL.
Because They Insisted ON Fee Of Five
Per Cent on Value Of
Buildings.

Aoo OAuSAS GU ucHlOSIS Va shS SohAA-
mission appointed by him to locate public
buildings In the District of Columbia
shall receive salaries of SO per day, with
travelling expenses, created surprise
among many senator's and representa-
tives who are lingering in the city. This
action was taken, it has been stated. in
order to meet the criticism Of these ap-
pointments by the President without sal
aries. the deficiency appropriation bill OF
the last Congress providing specifically
against the acceptance of any voluntary
service by any department of the govern
ment.
It is claimed by congressional critics that
the status of the commission Is now even
worse than 1t was when its members were
accepted as rendering voluntary services TO
the government without compensation
Now, they say. the President has created
five offices. provided for the payment OF
salaries to them and for their expenses, and
has given them certain authority without
any authority of law.
To Be Criticised by Congress.
From the view that many people take Of
this matter at this time. 1t seems certain
that in the next session Of Congress this act
of the President will be discussed, and will
be the subject Of considerable adverse
criticism. There are men who stand high In
congressional councils who express no doubt
that in appointing these five officers MEM
bers of this commission, with salaries and
specific duties. the President has exceeded
his authority beyond question.
The general feeling that has been stirred
up by the appointment of Messrs. Burn
ham, McKim and Olmstead, formerly MEM
bers of the park commission, together with
two other gentlemen as members Of a COM
mission to locate public buildings. is apt In
itself to lead to vigorous criticism in the
next Congress.
Tn both fba tbo Dnr
resentatives there has been shown a great
deal of resentment against what senators
and representatives regarded as excess
i've charge by Mr.. MeKim for his services
as architect in the reconstruction OF the
White House. Many democrats have en-
deavored to bring about an investigation of
all the facts connected with the recon-
struction of the White House. Their eff
forts have been OF no avail, as the major
ity in the Senate and House has not favor
ed such an investigation.
Friction with Architects.
Then ther6nha been friction between
committees 81 Congress and some of the
architects orp this; commission in relation
to the design and construction of the office
buildings for the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives.' IVA Both the Senate and the
House committees in charge Of this con-
struction work. resented what they regard
cd as an excessive charge Of the archi-
tects for sthesfecapstructiO of the White
House. ia rss5fs q ,.tsrYg-- 49,!
These architects.idt iiss understood, claim
ed- thatethey SHOULD bespaid for large gov
| eminent wofae thsscoFau1tssioa of 8 per cent
or the estimafedlcost nflthe buildings: as
their fee in accoEdanee-with- the rules of
the American Institute Q{.AEchiteets.-~,E he
idea of paying such fees on buildings cost
ing several millions OF dollars has been Wig
! orcusly-TezidkeH eby members Of the COM
mittees haYing the work in charge. Later
would be. ,almostn eat~th half was also re-
jected on the: same ground. The architects
who have been employed, sMessrs.. Carrere
and Hastings of Boston, In connection with
the work of designing the two office build
ings for Congress-, have been given salaries
That course. it is understood, has been very
distasteful to the members of the American
Institute Of Architects. p. -.e~,p ,..., ~,
The result Of all this discussion in re-
lation to architects fees has resulted to
certain extent in straining the rela-
lions between Congress and the, architects
who have insisted upon the 3 per cent basis
Of compensation: It has even gone further
than that. It is no secret that on both the
Senate and House sides of the Capitol
the suggestion that the parking commits
sion should be continued in service with.
authority for the carrying out Of the plan
of that coninisstog has been rejected.
President Sustains Commission.
Now however. that commission. in con-
nectfon with Mr.. Bernard R.. Green and
Mr.. Julian st. Gaudens. has been empow-.
cred by the President to locate public
buildings in the District of Columbia,
which is regarded at the Capitol as In
volvfng all the authority that it was ever
suggested might be given to the park
commission to consummate its plan in