Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-09
REDF|E[D OPPOSES
RENTED BUILDINGS
Wants Department of Com
merce All Housed Under a
Single Roof.

Condemnation Of tho policy Of the
government paying rent for buildings
1t occupies and pointing to the separa-
ton in rented buildings Of several bu-
reaus in his department as an exam
pie Of daily loss Of money and efec-
tiveness. Secretary Redfield Of the
Commerce Department In his annual
report urges that money be immedi-
ton, on land already purchased, OF a
building which will house all Of the
bureaus of the department.
OF the building housing the bureau
Of fisheries and the one in which the
he speaks in particular, and he con-
dennis the unhealthful conditions un-
der which the employees of the coast
survey are compelled to work, saying
the whole building plant lis out of
date and discreditable to the govern
ment," and would in private business
cause the discharge of the supertn-
tendent who allowed them long to con-
tinue"
At Maximum Of Expense.
Discussing the coast and geodetic
survey and the bureau OF fisheries, Sec
rotary Redfeld says:
"One Is near the Capitol and the
other on the Mall. both SO placed as to
insure the maximum of expense in OPP
Grafton and maintenance with the least
efficiency in results. Furthermore, the
buildings owned by the government in
which the coast and geodetic survey
and the bureau of fisheries are located
are i'll adapted for their purposes. 1t
would be hard to find two buildings
worse suited for the uses to which
work of the coast and geodetic survey
is conducted in what was an old stable.
and the invaluable plates and records
of the survey are in constant danger
from fire. Two small fires have already
occurred and would have resulted in
the destruction of the building If they
had not been early discovered by acct
dent The building occupied by the bu-
reau of fisheries was built as an arm
DRY for the militia of the District OF
Columbia in 1856. In 1878 it was a
storehouse. In 1882 it was used for a
fish hatchery. 1t has long been out OF
date. No private concern with an eye
to economical management would per-
nit the use of these buildings for
their respective purposes longer than
necessary for obtaining the funds to
replace them.
II recommend that the proposed new
government DullQInS IOf Inc OcQdFl-
ment of Commerce be so planned that
it shall contain the coast and geodeti1
survey and the administrative portion
Of the bureau Of fisheries.
Urges Modern Aquarium.
THE bureau of fisheries should be
provided with a modern aquarium,
suited alike for the education of the
public and the carrying on of tho sci
entific work of the bureau. This should
be housed in a separate building, To-
Gated as near as practicable to the
proposed new building for the depart
ment.
Land has already been purchased
by the government for a building for
the Department of Commerce and 1t
! would. in my judgment, be easy to
revise the plans for the space intended
at the time the plans were made for
the bureaus since diverted into the
Department of Labor, 80 that the
building may receive. as above stated
the fisheries and coast and geodetie
survey, allowance at the same time
being made for the removal of the
bureau of corporations. which has been
merged into the federal trade com
mission. In this connection l renew
my protest against the policy of pay
ing rent to private parties for build
ings for the public service. especially
department to be split into separate
parts at greatly enhanced cost for
operation. 1t Is not good business
sense to pay through rentals to pri-
vate parties twice as high a rate OF
return on their Investments as that
which the government would pay for
money invested in buildings OF its