Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-27
NO MONEY Is AVAILABLE
Bureau of Engraving Designs Safe
From Censors.
DEBATE ON FLOOR OF HOUSE
Legislative Right to Create Such
Bodies ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
and Tawney Provisions.

tinuation Of work on the new building Tor
the bureau of engraving and printing,
contained in the sundry civil bill passed
last session, it Is apparent that Congress
did not want to take any chances OF in
reference with this building. by the
council Of fine arts created by Presi-
dent Roosevelt.
In the order creating this council Mr.
Roosevelt directed that 1t should super
wise the plans for and the construction OF
any government building provided for by
Congress In the future. Leaders of both
Senate and House contended that this
order was ineffective, inasmuch as. If the
power conferred on the council Of fine
arts held, it would give that council, in
effect, the privilege of repeating acts of
Congress. Moreover, the creation of the
council Of fine arts was the straw that
broke the camel's back so far as bodies of
this kind created by presidential order
were concerned.
Not only was specific provision tackled
on to the appropriation for the bureau of
engraving and printing forbidding that
the council of fine arts have anything to
DO with 1t, but a general provision was
also adopted-both included in the sundry
civil bill-directed against all commits
sions Of the sort.
Fitzgerald Devised Blow.
Tho specific provision directed against
the council was offered by Representative
Fitzgerald of New York, and provides
that
mo part of any appropria ton made in
this act shall be paid to members of the
so-called council of fine arts. created by
executive order under date of January Is
1909. as compensation or for expenses;
and no part of any such appropriation
formulation of any plans which have
been submitted to. or approved or sug-
gested by. said council Of fine arts
Tho debate that followed the offering
by Representative Fitzgerald Of this pro-
vision throws considerable light On its
purpose and on the attitude of members
of the House. with respect to the Gre
alton CT commissions of this sort.
"There has been created by executive
order.' said Mr.. Fitzgerald. "a so-called
council Of fine arts. Under the order is
sued by the President no federal Off
cial Is permitted to select a site or to
agree upon the plan for public build
ing, monument or other work which may
be artistic and monumental unless the
matter be first submitted to and approved
by the so-called council of fine arts.
However desirable 1t may be to have
some body of competent men to pass upon
ments or structures erected for the fed
eral government, I am sufficiently old
fashioned In my notion of the theory Of
this government to believe that such a
body should be- created by the legislative
body and not by the executive"
Effective Over Nation.
In reply to a question by Representative
Tawney, chairman Of the House appropri-
atoms committee. as to whether the order
extended throughout the entire United
States and applied to all public buildings
wherever erected under authority Of law.
Mr. Fitzgerald replied that this was in
deed the effect as nearly as he had been
able to determine.
Fitzgerald IL he had discovered any au-
thority given to the council of fine arts to
tear down public buildings under the d.
rection of the President as we'll as to
gerald sarcastically replied that upon the
propriety of tearing down buildings it APP
pears there was no necessity to have spe-
cially qualified men tender their artistic
views. Certain buildings having offended
the artistic sense of one official of the
government they were torn down at his
order regardless Of the council Of fine
arts
In this Mr. Fitzgerald referred to the
tearing down by the President. without
old Pennsylvania railroad station.
Continuing, Mr.. Fitzgerald said:
Not only are my views as to the the
DRY of this government that the legis-
tive department somewhat old fashioned,
but they seem to be in harmony with
the Constitution OF the United States.
My own views being strengthened by a
reference to the Constitution. I was
prompted to suggest this amendment,
which will accomplish two things.
No Available Cash.
1T will prevent, in the first place, the
payment Of a per diem and expenses to
any one of these thirty eminent men
who may be called to Washington or to
one of the many places in the United
States for the purpose of determining
what particular site should be selected
for q public building.
For instance, II 1t were deemed neces-
sary that this council should go to Yazoo.
Miss, in order to pass upon the particular
site determined for a public building and
to see that it was located with reference
to Its utility and artistic surrounding. 1t
would be impossible to pay these gentle
men. under this amendment. either for
services or for expenses. That is true not
only of Yazoo but Of all other places.
The other purpose to be accomplished
by the amendment will be to prevent the
preparation of plans which may, through
any coercive methods. be submitted to
this council.
II listened today with great attention to
the farewell address OF George Washing
ton. So Impressed was I by that portion
in which he refers to the danger Of one
department of the government encroach-
ing upon the other departments Of the
government that Immediately took from
beneath the heap of documents in my
desk a copy Of the Constitution of the
United States, and refreshed my memory
as to the particular powers that had been
granted to the various departments of the
government.
Having found that the legislative
power had been vested in the Congress, 1
thought I should do my small part to
carry out that excellent advice proffered
by the father of his country when he
was retiring from public life
After some more debate along the same
lines vote was taken. The FITZGERALD
amendment was agreed to.
Tawney Extends Restriction.
Later Representative Tawney offered
another proposition along the same line.
but more general, inasmuch as the Fitz-
gerald amendment applied only. to the
council of fine arts. Mr.. Tawney's
amendment follows:
thereafter. no part of the public money
or of any appropriation heretofore or
hereafter made by Congress shall be
USED for the payment of compensation,
Of expenses Of any commission. council,
board or other similar body, of any
member thereof. or for expenses in con-