New-York tribune., 1906-05-31
LAW AND NEW BUILDING
Departnlent of Agriculture licensed
Of Disregard Of Statute.

A.-e-oa. May 5a-TVhat members of Tho
-, Committee on Appropriations consider dis
- 81 the LAW authorizing tho construction of
et,gais- fo- che Department OF Agriculture was
.rn IN the hearings before tat committee on the
cry civil Appropriation bl In 1873 Congress
-orriated 81. 10000 for this building II was THO
.nera understanding thai THIS was for TIE
S.r,ion Of a complete building for the accomnoda-
-, ~ the entire department.
,r,e members Of the committee learned last week
,L surprise that ''somebody had ordered the con-
.+-,rtion Of two wings Of what may he some day a
,rarleted building. and. that the two wings have
-aetically exhausted the money appropriated They
rove also informed that the two wings when com
,,,ed would not accommodate the force OF the de-
psrtment and that Congress would be called on 20
rryopriate q couple o: millions more to nn The
1ooe between the wres.
considerable irritation was del lel0pcd during the
hearings before the committee Secretary Wilson.
Or Galloway and officials of The Agricultural he
rsrfment examined or the subject T. 3
Gardner. mechanical engineer ot :ha DeDartnlent
n Agriculture, was one who testified ge was
asked If he knew the Limit OF cost OF :he entire
tuIdng and replied that he dd-that IL was
rEN@O. He said that tie central administration
sufaug was not even contemplated AS yet. and
.ha, i would have to be appropriated for ST some
due N the future.
But" asked Mr. Tawney. docs not :hc act
ander which this building being erected require
onplete Sricdlt-al building 20 serve the require
ents Of all The different branches Of the depart
nent anG ~ which all the work of the department
Is 10 be carried on2'
We'll" replied Mr. Gardner --!f the act con-
lenplaIed that il is absolutely impossible from my
knoR.edse Of the requirements Of the department"
In :e}ly 10 a question from the chairman as 10
why the department did not construct the building
within :he limit OF fxed by Congress. and in
& manner tha. would accommodate the department
Yath 81 OF is various branches. as prescribed by
Congress 1T. Gardner answered that they con-
strvc-d within ,he limit Of cost exactly what they
aecird Eor tAcr present work. AND when their
c:hor buildings
gr Ga-dle. also SAID that the administrative
ysrk .: the department would continue 10 be car
ned o.. - present building. although Congress
rro,ided thA; IL should be torn down. Mr.. Gardner
said thai The wings in question were being
constructed FOR laboratory purposes
DO sou know, asked Mr.. Tawney, who is re-
sponsible for the plans of the buildsng?"
The Secretary Of Agriculture replied Mr..
Gardner.
Mr. Gardner also testified that useless work cost
ing $1,000 had been done in order thai the site for
TIE building might be moved forty feet.
"On whose recommendation was the change
nade?" asked Mr.. Tawney.
There meeting At the White House. and II
was decided by the Secretary and the President
that the building should be moved-and also rep
reseutative OF the Park Commission replied Mr.
Gardner .,.,.
Tee and made long. prepared statement in regard
70 the present constructions
"Fow can you Justify your position asked
Chairman Tawney. When sou made your plan II
Won became satisfied that s1500.000 was not enough
/ should have thought you would have informed
2 Congress before going on with the plan you
: ou have a wrong idea in your mind there.
said Air Wilson We made plan 10 exhaust
& - 6r We built in such a way that Congress
might add il, and we made no plans but Tor our
huidirg ,,-.. =.
testimony Of Mr.. Gardner. insisted that the wings
would accommodate the administrative force, nut
hoth eaid that they did not contemplate tearing
down he prescnt administrative building.
Men hers Of the committee assured Mr. wilson
thar they did not suspect his integrity or take
issue with his wisdom this time, but that they
6d not think he had authority in law for what he
tsd done To a suggestion Of this kind the Secre-
isTv replied - =.
you make a law without consulting soul in
- Agricultural Department with regard 10 its
rgess ties The man who drafted the law came
= rrty near the needs, and made the most of IT, =