Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-13

1887. s17s.1A &C
1898. 1874 ,346 ).
iS3g. Observation-Disclosures. It's, 5S5 -.
1900. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 1877 .6lJ.3
1scl ..... 1876 POS %,
f.G2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 2I3 81
1905 ...............3 sic Pa ~
800. INSTRUMENTATION. ~ ,2.}6. ~
1909. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. $40 26G.
1906. Observation-Disclosures. 80. l2.. 81
III. Observation-Disclosures. 4l5, g. Oh
These figures speak for themselves. anC
this table shows that each year there has
been an increase. and. unless several de-
partmental buildings are erected. Is
not unreasonable To suppose that Ter
years from now over n million dollars
will be spent annually in rent.
Twenty Millions Represented.
The government today has no difficult
i'm placing all the bonds ii desires at ar
interest rate of . per cent. AT such a
rate the. S416OCO being spent this fsca
year represents an investment of over
twenty millions of dollars. With twenty
millions of dollars departmental build
ings enough can he erected to house every
clerk in government hui dngs. and these
will be q credit and saving to the thltef
States. And would not such an invest
ment be the part of economy? The gov
eminent would then only be paying a
per cent rental and would own IN time
buildings whose rents have paid for them
treasury money which otherwise would
have enriched the individual If our gov
eminent is to be administered on Souno
economic principles this is the only solu-
ton. If it is 10 be administered for the
benefit of a few i'm the District of Co-um-
hia the rental system should remain as II
is and no further efforts should be mace
In erect buildings in this District Tor the
necessary work of the departments we
should rely on private enterprise and re-
- -,-l1 :. y
est on its investment. Then we can give
account of our stewardship to our states
and our people and prove how we nave
economically handled the public money
for the benefit of a few: how We have
zealousIy guarded the revenues against
the greed of a plain. economical neces-
sary business proposition.
Reciprocal Obligations.
For it is a necessary business propo-
>ition. l have only stated one of the
aspects There is another-and that, the
right the government has 20 require from
its employees the highest grade of re-
suits. But in securing this there are
reciprocal obligations. The government
must give the employee all the oppor-
tunities. all the implements. all the ne
cessities with which to do his best. Is
the government living up to its part OF
the contract? All the testimony says no.
For 1t is a declared fact that in the PRES
ent day sanitary and ComTodfous quar-
tiers must be furnished clerks to secure
from them the best work. They must be
given room in which to turn around. At
present halls and s.airWays are being
utilized to give clerks space in which TO
do their work. and when they are thus
cramped and crowded they are unable to
give that which should rightly be de-
nlanded
Ry,t is, /. t,fo
ticn as this eXis,s? Are halls in crowded
buildings absolutely untitled for the pur-
poses thus used? Are heads of depart
ments asking. clamOring for relief? Have
they been clamoring for years? Has Con-
gress needed their appeals? The records
OF each House viii show. Shall l illus
trate?
Take. for example. the Department of
Justice. When the old building on the
corner of Madison place and Pennsyl-
wanna avenue was torn down that de-
partment rented the Baltic building. on
~ street. and also one building on Laf-
ayette square. At the same time its IL
brary was placed in the Court of Claims
Dulid1ng. Two years later in 1901 to re-
lleve the building on Lafayette square.
the department was forced to rent nine
rooms in the Bond building. ard later
the building on Vermont avenue directly
east OF the Baltic building. In the same
year a building for the Spanish treaty
claims commission had to he secured
But even this was not enough. and two
years later the department was Obliged
10 rent the building directly west of it's
main building. on X street, and all these
are now crowded to their utmost limit.
At Mercy of Landlords.
This situation is bad enough. but it is
NOT the worst. Not only is the business
OF this department scattered i'm these va
rious buildings. but it is absolutely at the
mercy of the owners. Listen to the testi-
mony of Attorney General Moody, now
Justice of the Supreme Court before a
Senate committee two years ago. In an
swer to question he said
Let me give you rather humilia ting
example of the position in which we are
placed l will not name the particular
building. The landlord of one of the
buildings which we rent. and which we
must have. declined to make repairs
which. in my Judgment under the terms
started to be very severe with him. and
insist upon our rights. In substance he
replied. If you don't like it. you can get
out and | had to submit. L could not
be turned out upon the streets and there
fore. l was at his mercy. In the main |
think our landlords have treated us with
fairness. but as the leases expire of
course. We are at their mercy upon the
question OF renewal
New another illustration before the
same committee at the same time given
by Mr.. .. j. Field chief clerk of the De-
paf'ment of Justice. In rela ton TO the
huildinG occupied by the Spanish treaty
claims commission. he said:
We lea sed that building FIVE years ago
for so" month for three years. AT the
expiration OF three years they Increased
the rent $50 a month for two years. That
TWO years lease expired the LIST of April.
They denla nded a further increase of $50
month on six months lease. We
hardly wanted to lease building for Just
six months. and i'll endeaVoring TO reach
some compromise proposition for a longer
tenancy they notified us that they de-
days before the lease expired. and we are
hunting around for some place to move
the Spanish treaty claims commission to
weeks notice
AS a sequel 10 this testimony ! can
state that the Department of Justice
finally compromised with the owners OF
this building by signing another lease for
three years at an increase of $50 per
month.
Almost Unbeatable Conditions.
Has any Attorney General presented
this situation to Congress. and is this
body still ignorant of these conditions .
a business man. a man OF affairs, would
think the latter. The people might think
the same. But for years every Attorney
General of the United States has been
pleading for relief from these almost un-
bearable conditions. They have appeared
before committees; they have, within
their rights officially acquainted Con
gress With this state of affairs With
what results? An effort TO fairly meet
the difficulties and remedy them In a