Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-06-06
BUILDING LAW
NOT OBSERVED
BIG APPROPRIATION USED FOR
ANOTHER PURPOSE.
CONGRESSMAN ANNOYED
Find Fault With Department of Agri-
culture for Using Money for mad
equate Instead of for Complete
5uiIding-Secretary Wilson Makes
Tart Reply.

Washington, May 31.-Wnat mem
bers Of the house committee on ap
preparations regard as absolute disre
gard Of the law authorizing the con
structiOn of new building for the
department of agriculture, is re-
vealed in hearings before that com
mittee on the sundry civil appropria
ton bill In 1903 congress appropri.
ated $l5O0000 for this building. 1t
was the general understanding that
this amount was for the erection of a
complete building for the accommoda-
ton of the entire department. 1t was
with some establishment that mem
bers learned last week that some
body" had ordered the construction OF
two wings of what may be some Gay
a completed building and that the
two wings have practically exhausted
the Sl,5OO,000 appropriated for the
complete structure. Moreover, their
establishment was not lessened when
they were informed that the two
wings when completed will not begin
to accommodate the force of the de
partment
The wings when completed will, ac-
cording to testimony given before the
committee, be inadequate to house
the department force and congress
will be called upon to appropriate an
other couple of millions to fill the
space between the wings
Considerable irritation was devel-
oped during the hearings before the
appropriations committee and Secre-
tary Wilson. DR.. Galloway and officials
of the agricultural department were
questioned concerning what is said to
be the direct violation of law in
VOWED.
f. s. Gardner, mechanical engineer
of the department of agriculture, ad-
mitted that he knew the cost OF the
completed building was limited to ST..
500,0 900, and that the central binding
necessary to connect the two wings
was not included in this limit also
that ii will require another large ap-
preparation to complete the structure.
Answering question, Gardner said the
secretary of agriculture was respOn
sible for the plans of the building
now being erected.
Gardner said that S37 900 worth OF
useless work was done in order that
the site for the building might be
moved 40 feet.
"On whose recommendation was
the change made?" asked Mr.. Tawn
ey.
There was a meeting at the white
house, and it was decided by the sec.
Rotary and president that the building
should be moved-and also a repre-
sentative of the park commission
replied Mr. Gardner
An admission WAS secured froTs
Mr. Gardner that the ends of these
two wings. which would coHGect with
an administration building. if one
was constructed, were not finished ia
marble
Secretary Wilson was questioned al
some length before the committee
and mod a long prepared statement
in duiense of the present construc
ton. He said the buildings were ar
ranged so as to use up the 81 500. 00t
appropriated and planned so thai
congress might add to them He in,
sisted that these wings would accom-
modata the administrative force
Members of the committee assured
Mr., Wilson that they did not suspect
his integrity or take issue with his
wisdom at this time, but that they did
not think he had authority in law for
what he had done The secretary
tartly replied:
you make law without consult
ing soul in the agricultural depart
ment with regard to necessities, The
man who drafted the law came pref
" near the needs. and | made the
most of It,