Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-20
Building Proposed for Auditors
and Other Officers:
QUARTERS RENTED NOW
Assistant Secretary Coolidge Con-
siders Situation Disgraceful.
TIME AND MONEY ARE WASTED
Service by Messenger Unsatisfac.
tory-Proposed Site Is Where
Freedmen's Bank Stood.

Treasury officials are alarmed over the
necessity of transferring important office.
! TO quarters in other buildings throughout
tie city because of a constantly growing
scarcity of space in the big department.
OF six auditors only one now remain.
in the Treasury building proper. The
department does not know how soon il
will have 10 remove the auditor for the
Treasury.
There is a big cry going up for a new
building for the department close enough
to accommodate all branches now scat
tered over the city. Without such a
building at an early date serious embar-
rassment may be caused the government,
by losses of invaluable papers either by
fire or otherwise.
Some of the buildings recently rented
are said not TO be fireproof. This occa-
sions alarm.
Auditor Is Moving Out.
TIL, sauditor for the Interior Depart
ment is to be moved in few days to the
Union building, on G street between 9th
and eth streets The auditor for the
State and other departments was recently
moved to the Small building. 14th and G
streets. The auditor for the Post Office
Department was several years ago moved
to the Post Office Department.
About a year ago the auditor for the
Navy Department was sent with ms force
TO the Munsey building. The auditor for
the War Department has been for a num-
her of wears in the Warder building, on
18th street
Thus is the department scattered, at
great inconvenience as we'll as great cost
n " q r.
ry papers backward and forward.
The agitation in the Treasury is 1or
as early relief as possible. Secretary Cor
telyou will undoubtedly be forced to pre-
sent the matter in unusually strong shape
to Congress next winter. 1t is said that
there is little possibility Of additions be-
ing made to the Treasury building. Inc
superyising architect has reported that IL
cannot be enlarged without marring the
architectural beauty of the building
Consequently the next'best thing, In the
ewes of Treasury officials. is to put up
fine new building opposite the north front
of the Treasury on the vacant lot owned
by the government at Pennsylvania ave
nue. and Lafayette square, next 10 the
BelaSco Theater. .
Freedman's Bank. The building later be-
came the Department of Justice, which
moved to Mcpherson square seven or
eight years ago. under the presumption
that a new building was to be erected
on the site.
Congress did make an appropriation OF
81 100000 for the building. but after the
plans had been drawn it was discovered
that building material had risen so last
the plans could not be used within the
annropriation. Congress then took charge
and Cancelled its previous action, leaving
the site vacant.
One argument favorable to the site is
that it is close enough 10 practically
~ I>vx 49, anti nor M
two buildings could be connected by sub
way, making them as one.
Coolidge Says, "Disgraceful."
Assistant Secretary Coolidge is much
Interested in the plight of the Treasury.
When asked his views today he said:
lone of the most pressing needs of the
department is new building for the ac-
concmodation of the auditors and the
supervising architect. The auditors.
whose work is intimately connected with
the Secretary's Office at points, have
gradually been crowded out of the Treasury
building until now only one Is left. the
auditor for the Treasury Department.
1.-The rented quarters. though the best
we can get in Washington, are not at all
suitable for the custody of the heavy
files and important records. These are In
constant daily use and should be housed
in fireproof buildings. furnished with
every facility for speedy and comfortable
consultation.
'The office of the auditor for the War
Department, for many years situated In
the Winder building. is inaccessible tC
the Treasury and utterly unfit for hous-
ing government clerks and storing gov
eminent records. Many records of the
auditor for the War Department are also
stored in the Cox building, which is even
less well adapted for the purpose.
1T is a disgraceful condition Of affairs
1.-The auditor for the Post Office De-
partment has most of his clerks in the
his divisions is housed in the Union build
ing on G street at a considerable distance
both from the Post Office and from the
Treasury. Two floors of that building
have also been leased for the accommo-
dalton of the auditor for the Interior De-
partment, who will henceforth have to
carry on communication with the Treas
ury Department by messenger service
which cannot, in the nature of things, be
either prompt or satisfactory.
1.-The government is losing money and
time every day by the way in which the
various auditors are scattered about the
city. to say nothing of the lack of dig
nifty in furnishing what must be merely
temporary quarters for important gov
eminent officials and nearly /, 400 clerks.
Even with the auditors scattered about
as they are, the Treasury building will
still remain overcrOwded. 1t is only a
question of time when the office of the
supervising architect will have to make
way for the increasing demands of the
treasurer of the United States and of the
controller of the currency.
1.-The Treasury building is not adapted
to the work of the supervising architects
Office at the best. In connection with the
building for the auditors accommodations
should be made to furnish the architect
with the most complete and most adj
vanced facilities for his delicate and i'm
portant work.
ACCIDENTAL DEATH.