The Washington herald., 1908-04-14

la3i. .,........... l6 5 % l9G.......... A562Z Os
ls'2,,.,,,......... 275.zis 80
These figures speak for themselves.
and this table shows that each year there
has been an Increase, and unless several
departmental buildings are erected. it is
not unreasonable to suppose that ten
years from now over a million dollars
viii be spent annually In rent
The government to-day has no diff
Guilty in placing all the bonds it desires
at an Interest rate Of per cent. At such
a rate. the $4,000 being spent this fiscal
year represents an investment of over
s2o@o0o9. With s2001O,O00 departmental
buildings enough can be erected 10 house
every clerk IN government buildings, and
these wiik be a credit and a saving TO
the United states. And would not such
an investment be the part Of economy?
Would Pay for Itself.
THE government would then only be
paying . per cent rental. and would
own in time buildings whose rents have
paid for themselves. It would have held
in its own treasury money which other
wise would have enriched the individual.
II our government is TO be administered
on sound economic principles this is the
cnly solution.
Il have only stated one Of the aspects.
There is another-and that the right the
government has 20 require from its en-
ployes the highest grade CT results. But
IN securing this there are reciprocal OBJ
legations. The government must give the
employe all the opportunities, all the I'M
plements. ali the necessities with which
to do his best.
Outlines the Solution.
After going extensively into present
conditions, Mr. Scott continued:
''The Senate Committee on Public Build
ings and Grounds during the last Con-
gress. and during this session, too. took
Up this situation and tried 70 ind a
remedy. I, made a favorable report on
the proposition for buying the squares
Of ground lying between Fourteenth and
Fifteenth streets, Pennsylvania avenue
and D street northwest, as site on
which departmental buildings could be
erected. These buildings were to house
the departments Of State Justice and
Commerce and Labor. This site was Sc
lected since there seem 10 be the strong
est Of reasons why two OF these depart-
ments should be within a short distance
OF the White House. 1 refer to the De-
partment OF State and the Department
OF Justice. The heads Of these two de-
partments of the government are more
often called by the President to the White
House than are any ather members OF
his official family. and the length OF
their absence from the offices would
thereby be reduced 10 a minimum.
Analyzes Financial side.
Let US see If. from a financial stand
point, this would be businesslike propo-
sition. What are the savings in rent?
During the present fiscal year the state
Department pays out in rent $3.50: the
Department Of Commerce and Labor.
S60,Oi9.S0; the Department OF Justice.
SOS 200; the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion. 500 16e-a total Of Su0 $50. With the
State Department moved from its pres
ent quarters into a new building. the rent
of the Mills Building and some other
buildings used by the War and Navy De-
partments could be saved. and run this
total up to at least $40. .ooO-2 per cent of
100000
Wants BeIascO Theater Lot,
''The government at present owns the
corner lot across Pennsylvania avenue
from the Treasury building. The pur-
chase of the Arlington Insurance Com
pany building and the Belasco Theater
would give the government fine site on
which could be erected a handsome fojr-
story Auditors Office. Such building
as this would relieve at once the Treasury
Department of its congestion.
To relieve the congestion in the Post
Office Department. a new postal work
shop should be erected at the Union Sta
tion. Here all mails could be handled
promptly carriers could start their de-
liveries from this point. and the objects
of fast mail service absolutely obtained.
For years a new Bureau of Printing
and Engraving has been needed. The
Secretary Of the Treasury has made his
recommendations and I understand they
are To be adopted. 1 shall offer no OBJ
jections. 1 am only too glad TO see the
needs met But I think the Bureau of
Printing and Engraving should be a
workshop-it is merely an establishment
where money is manufactured. It should
be located where It could have railroad
facilities. and as FI1ch as possible of
the work should be done on the ground
floor. This could be accomplished BY Sc
curing cheap site near one of the rail-
roads and erecting a modern manufactur-
ing plant
One more building Is needed, that for
the Geological Survey. It's necessity has
been shown before numerous committees
on numerous occasions. feel that ] am
within the limits of reason when I say
that S2o,000,000. the amount on which the
government is now paying a . per cent
rate OF interest Ia rent. would more than
erect and equip these buildings. It would
even go far enough. in my opinion TO
build a separate structure for the Census
Bureau, though that is taken care Of in
the rough estimates Of the Commerce and