The Washington times., 1915-12-10
MCAdoO Urges Reform in Appro-
priatlOns for Public Buildings
and Sites.
UNABLE TO PREVENT WASTE
Recommends Abandonment Of
Omnibus Acts = VaIueIesS
Lands Bought.

Decrying the wholesale waste OF pub
lie revenues in pork" appropriations
for public buildings and sites. Secretary
McAdoo. in his annual report advocates
sweeping reform IN the authorization
and purchase of building sites, and in
the construction of buildings. The Sec
retary points out that he is powerless to
prevent this waste as long as Congress
cOmpels it by law.
He makes a forceful plea for the
abandonment of omnibus public build
ing acts. and calls attention to value
less tidal lands and sunken depres-
sions purchased in the past and found
to be valueless to the Government. and
entailing heavy loss.
1t is pointed out that large and fancy
buildings have been provided in small
towns where they are not needed, while
the Government is paying millions in
rent in the big cities for lack of such
buildings.
Situation Is Serious.
So serious is the situation, the Sec
retary declares. that he is unable to
treat it fully in his annual report. and
will make further and detailed report
and recommendation to Congress in the
near future. In this report It is expected
the Secretary will cover in detail the
errors Of the past, and the most cry
ing needs for reform.
In his annual report he says
AN examination OF public building
legislation covering a period of sew
eral years shows a. lack OF system
and a disregard of economic consid-
GRAFTON IN authorizing the construc-
tion of public buildings. Acquisition
of sites has been authorized years
IN advance of any need for them, and
buildings have been authorized at
limits OF cost bearing no reasonable
l1unities in which they are TO be
placed. The limit Of cost fixed By
Congress appears to have dictated the
type OF building to he erected, and
equal that amount. Needless and un
9ustifable waste of public money has
resulted"
Pays $2,452,O36 For Rental.
I'm nearly every community where
,Growth of the public business and the
iinauEuration Of the parcel post service
Ihave rendered such buildings Inadequate
flor the purpose for which they were
CONSTRUCTED. In numerous instances Il
has become necessary to rent quarters
foutslde OF the public building fol
lRartons branches of the public service
I'm the $50 communities in which Fed
seral buildings are occupied the Govern
iment Is paying in rentals q total o
iS2.4b2, ,036.08. AS against this annual out
Ilay. only $6S2, ,059.04 is being paid for, tn,
rental OF postoffice quarters in all 10
lcalities where postoffice buildings hav,
ybeen authorized but not yet erected
/ MANY OF the buildings which the 191
;omnihus public building bill authorizes
communities where the service is nov
being properly handled in leased quar-
ters and where the annual rental Is les
than one-half of what the maintenance
OF Federal buildings will cost when con
.structed.
Not Given Discretion.
Under existing legislation the re
sponsibility for the construction o
public buildings is placed on tn
Secretary Of the Treasury. He i
required to determine. within the limit
of cost fixed by Congress. what sort o
n building shall he erected to meet TIL
needs of each community and of tn
Federal service. He has no discretion
to say that any building authorized shal
not be erected. II buildings are author
ICED to be constructed in communitie
where they are not needed the responsi
bility rests upon the Congress. The Sec
retRry's duty Is to comply with the di
rections of Congress.
'It is, however, a fact that man,
buildings have been authorized in tn
1913 omnibus public building act II
small towns whore there is no actua
need for them. and that there are man,
places where public buildings are sorel!
needed or where the public business ha
outgrown the public buildings alrcad.
erected. These must suffer until I
more satisfactory plan for the author
izatlon and construction Of public build
ings is adopted by the Congress.
Aggregate of $571,775 Saved.
Under the authority given this de
partment to employ special site agent
all sites authorized in the so-called ON
nibus public-buildins act approve
March 4, 1918. have been carefully in
spected and reported upon. OF thcs
sites, 1856 have been selected at an az
gregate saving of SSH .I75
I'm the matter of the acquisition @
sites where buildings are not yet au
thorized. 1t Is manifestlv uuwise an
unbusinesslike to buy such sites year
in advance of their possible use, cXceT
in cases where the opportunity of Sc
curing particularly desirable propcrtiC
might be lost through deferred actor
AS a general rule. II Is not to the Gov
ernments interest TO take title to site
years before they are required for builC
inE purposes.
Suggests Reform.
'I am convinced that the public intel
est will be best served and a needles
waste OF public money will be avoide
II the practice OF authorizing the Al
puisltion OF sites in advance of legisl'
tion authorizing the construction
buildings is abandoned and II both si
and building are authorized at the san
time under a single limit Of cost
May respectfully recommend thj
the practice which has come into q
istence I'm recent years OF legislating Il
public buildings I'm omnibus publ,
building bills be discontinued? EaC
puhlic-building project should be COZ
aA9ered on its merits. When Omnibl