Evening star., 1914-04-30

Expressive Of the views of a majority
OF its members but accompanied by a
d ssenting minority report signed by
Postmaster General Burleson. the report
OF the public buildings commission. rec
oinmending a permanent plan for the
authorization. construction and main
tenance Of public buildings was submit
ted to Congress today.
The majority report. embodying large
ly the result of the research and recon-
nlendatfons of Sherman Allen assistant
TO the chairman of the commission, is
signed by William 4. McAdoo. Secretary
Of the Treasury. chairman OF the COM
mission: Senator Claude \. Swanson.
chairman Of the Senate committee on
pnblie buildings and grounds. and Rep
resentative Frank Clark. chairman. and
Representative r. W. Austin. member,
Of the House committee on public build
ings and grounds. Senator George Suth-
erland Of the Senate committee on public
buildings and grounds. concurs in the
report. except in regard to two items of
proposed expenditure for salaries. ].
G McReynoids, Attorney General. de-
clares his ina bility to express an opinion,
owing to lack of time to give the sub
jet his attention.
Postmaster General Eurleson. III a let
ter to Chairman McAdoo. declares that
the pan of the commission VIII not
remslv conditions. and considers that II
has not met In. entire duty imposed upon
il by Congress in the act creating it.
He believes that, TO meet the needs OF
the situation. entire new public build
ing policy Is necessary. In his majority
report ne proceeds to suggest his RENE
dies and reviews conditions.
Secretary McAdoo. as chairman of the
commission. replying 10 the Postmaster
General in letter. also embodied in the
report. expresses belief that the plan of
the Postmaster General is not practicable.
and that the results will not be what
the Postmaster General anticipates from
their adoption. While he considers that
the propositions of the Postmaster Cen
eraI should be answered by the Treas
uIy Department. he does not attempt
such at this time emb"dying the minor
ity report in the report OF the commits
sion. in order that Congress may be fully
Informed.
Recommendations of the Commission
Th, commissions recommendations are
as follows:
In compliance with the direction TO
present connected scheme involving an
quail appropriations for the construction
and completion OF public bulldogs hereto
fore authorized within d reasonable time.
the commission recommends the follow
ing changes In connection with the su-
pervIsiug architects Office:
That provision be made for the or
eanization OF bureau of public build
Inss. at the head of which shall be placed
a commissioner OF public buildings whose
salary shai! lie $500 pei year. This Of
hcer Will hc aided by the technical ex-
perts of the present supervising archi-
fccts office. The bureau of public build
ings should take over the work of tn.
.,SsirA
organization under which AL the build
ing activities OF the government, excep,
those OF "a technical character. in which
class are certain public works OF the
sFuy and navy. should ultimately be con.
centrated.
That the salary OF the architect
which is now S;us tSJVu carried ir
the legislative bill. st.0O in the sundry
civil bill. in ALL s6",sp be increased to
SItp.
THAT there ne created in the bureau
of public buildings board on estimates
and property. to consist of u chairman
at a salary of 81 800 per year to be an.
pointed by th. Secretary OF the Treasur,
without regard to civil service rules ant
not to exceed tuo other members " h,
shall serve without additional ccmten.
satIon and who shall b. appointed by The
Secretary OF the Treasury from III.
bureau OF public buildings This boarC
will collect detailed Information relati,.
10 proposed public buildings and prepar,
estimates Tor the secretary OF the Treas
urv TO forward To Congress In sucl
estimates all pertinent facts shall b,
given, together with a statement show
ing whether or not the salaries pait
to post office employees exceed the tota
post Office receipts The board on esti
mates and property shall perform sucl
other duties in connection with the worl
of the bureau. not otherwise provide,
for by law. as the Secretary of the Treas
ury may direct.
Would Divide Country Into Zones
That there shall be appointed eight o
more supervising superintendents of con
struction in the field TO be in charge o
eight Construction zones in which tn
country will be divided These supervts
tix,a..e.i E.faIiIts Ii Eagel