The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-01
LEGISLATION TO CORRECT
PUBLIC BUILDING ABUSES
Report to Congress- on Plun for Stand
nrdlEation OF Federal
Structures.
NEW BUREAU IS RECOMMENDED
Commission Concludes investigation
nnd Suggests Scheme for Improving
NaphnAnrd Methods OF Construction.

Washington. April 3o.--As part of n
comparative scheme FOR practical
Standardization CT Federal buildings
the country over, the Public buildings
Commission in report presented To
Congress to-day recommended the ere
alton OF a Federal bureau of public
buildings to absorb the supervising
architects Office of the Treasury De-
ra-tincnt The proposed bureau would
include a board of estimates and prop
erty.
Congress appointed the commission
% investigate and report on the sys-
teInaiizing Of tho present haphazard
method of providing public buildings.
II was composed OF secretary McAdoo,
Attorney General McReynoids. Post
master-GeEcral Burleson. Senator'S
swanson. and Sutherland. Representa-
lives Clark and Auetin. and Sherman
Allen. former Assistant Secretary OF
the Treasury.
Basis OF Legislation.
Tho report is designed MS a basis of
legislation to correct public building
abuses.
The report stated that thero Is now
approximately s41.000,000 of public
buildings work to be placed under con-
struCtion by the Treasury Department;
that in the past twelve years 1858,
0S5.43l has been authorized for pub
lie building sites and construction. and
that during the past three years. the
average expenditures for construction
OF buildings. ma!htenance. alton
and all other expenses have been $40.
100000 n year. The commission re-
commcrds:
Or. .ization OF a Federal bureau OF
publ!l buildings. headed by COM
missioner 1T salary OF 5000 n year
to be aided by technical experts OF the
supervising architects Office: tho SUI
pervising architects Office to be ab
sorbcd into the public building bureau,
which would ultimately concentrate I'll
the government building activities cx-
ccpt public works or the army and
navy. and all other technical work
salary OF the architect to be raised to
$500; chairman nf the board OF csti-
mates ana property. $4,000; eight or
more supervising superintcndents OF
construction In the nold at s3,25o. each
in charge of zone: practical stand
ard!zation of buildings. establishment
OF groups Of states In which similar
conditions exist. classification of cities
where buildings should be erected
and use OF type sets Of plans
and specifications in erecting pub
lie buildings to be used solely for
post offices In the same class or group:
simple and INTELLECTUALLY desirable
construction. TO permit OF economical
operation aud maintenance; no build
ing to I've authorized where post office
receipts are less than slo.00o n year;
prompt appropriation for construction
Of the proposed building for the De-
partnents Of State. Justice and Com
mercc. and housing Of oil Federal nc
tivities in the District OF Colunbi In
government buildings. instead
Of partly In rented buildings as At
present.
Other recommendations include:
Requirement thnt towns and cities
In which buildings are authorized shall
agree to provide Sidewalks. street
lighting and street sewers; extension
OF the workingmen's compensation act
to cover Treasury employees engaged
upon public buildings work; consul
tation with the postal service before
installation OF post-of!ice equipment In
public buildings: staIdardizinr of sal
aries Of custodian forces; legislation
for further protection of material. men
end laborecJ; prohibition against de-
facenient and injury OF public build
nEs; examination OF governments
owned lands with view to sale OF
such as are not required: that appro-
priations shall not be construed as
meaning that all such money appro-
priated must be expended: and no ap-
Precipitation for constructing, repairing.
remodcling or charging OF any public
building shall be used until authorized
by Congress after report by the proper
committee.
a minority report was also sub
mitted as TO some of the minor portions
OF The report