The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1906-06-08
LAW IS OVERSTEPPED
In Erection of New Agriculture Building
at Washington Queer State
of Affairs.

members of the house committee on
appropriations regard as an absolute
disregard of the law authorizing the
construction OF the new building for
the department of agriculture pre-
vailed in the hearings on the sundry
civil appropriation.
In 1903 congress appropriated ST.
100000 for this building. 1t was the
general understanding that this
amendment was for the erection of a
complete building for the accommo-
dation of the entire department. 1t
was with some establishment that the
members learned recently that "some-
body has ordered the construction
Of two wings OF what may be some
day d completed building, and that
the two wings have practically ex-
hauted the million and a half dol
lars. Moreover, their establishment
was not lessened when they were in
formed that the two wings, when COM
pleted, will not begin to accommodate
the department, and that congress
will be called upon to appropriate an
ether couple Of millions to fill the
space between them.
Considerable irritation was mani
tested during the hearings, and Sec
rotary Wilson and officials of the ag-
ricultural department were question
cd concerning what is said to be a
direct violation Of law.
F. S. Gardner, mechanical engineer
of the department, was asked if he
knew the limit of cost of the entire
building and replied that he did -
that it was $1,500OOO
You are constructing a building
VITA two wings?" asked Chairman
Tawney.
yes, SIR" replied Mr. Gardner.
Toes your plan contemplate cen
trail administration building?" inquir-
ed the chairman.
ut does" said Mr.. Gardner
is that also in the contract?"
THAT has not been appropriated
for. NO. sir" replied Mr.. Gardner.
$50 in order to rear an agricultu-
raj building that will actually accom-
MEDIATE the department, congress will
have to appropriate a larger sum to
carry out the general plan on which
the two present buildings have been
based"
THAT is the idea exactly" said Mr..
Gardner.
1t developed further from Mr.. Gard
nor's testimony that the administra-
tive work of the department would
continue TO be carried en- in the
present building, although congress
provided that it should be torn down.
Further than that, Mr.. Gardner sad
that two wings in question were be.
ing constructed for laboratory pur-
poses"
DO you know" asked Mr.. Tawney,
who is responsive for the plans OF
the building that is now being erect
ed that was authorized, accepted and
approved?"
"The secretary OF agriculture" re-
piled Mr.. Gardner.
Mr.. Gardner then testified that S37.-
900 worth Of useless work had been
done, and added that the site CT the
building might be moved forty feet.
ION whose recommendation was the
change made?" asked Mr.. Tawney.
There was a meeting at the white
house, and it was decided by the sec
rotary and the president that the
building should be moyed-and also
q representative Of the park commits
sion," replied Mr. Gardner.
Secretary Of Agriculture Wilson
was Questioned by the committee and
made a long prepared statement in
defense Of the present construction.
How can ;ou justify your posi-
tion?" asked Chairman Tawney.
When you made your plan, if you
became satisfied that S1,5C0,OOO was
not enough, l should have thought
you would have informed congress
before going on with the plan you
adopted"
You have a wrong idea in your
mind there" said Mr. Wilson. 1--WE
made plan to exhaust $1,5OG,Cco.
We built in such way that congress
might add to it, and we maue 10
plans but for our BUILDINGS