The Washington times., 1915-09-22
Decreased Revenue and Cost Of
Nations Defense Given as
Reasons for Defeat.
AFFECTS 4 Departments
Congressional Leaders, With
the Campaign Approaching,
Agree to Pare. ID,

The word has gone out quietly to
heads OF Government departments that
Congress will not be asked to author
tze the construction OF any public build
ings in Washington within the next
two years.
This announcement has put a damper
on the plans Of the Departments OF
State. Justice. Commerce. and Labor,
and Of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission for the construction Of new
buildings to replace the rented quarters
they are now occupying.
Need Of economy In public building
construction. owing to a decreased vol
ume Of revenue into a treasury nearing
depletion. and the demands that will
be made on Congress in the next two
years to increase appropriations for the
national defense. are the principal rea-
sons advanced for placing ban on
public building operations in WASH
tnRton.
Another potent reason. however. is
that a Presidential campaign IL coming
on. and Administration and Congress
sional leaders are agreed that public
building bills should be pared to the
bone. Moreover. It has been brought
" dttchtlUn uk OIiICldtS, pOltICdi WIs-
dom would dictate the construction Of
such public buildings as are authorized
In communities where they would prove
vote Retters. and not In a voteless COM
munity such as washington.
Property Is Bought.
A few years ago Congress bought the
property bounded by Pennsylvania ave-
rue. b street, Fourteenth and Fifteenth
streets northwest, as a site for build
ings for the State. Justice, Commerce.
and Labor Departments. After buying
the land. steps to obtain appropria tions
for the buildings fell through. Since
then the Government has rented present
buildings on the ground to Polls
Theater. the old Grand. now the new
Oxford Hotel. and other tenants on
monthly leases. but new tenants are
said to have been given verbal assur-
ances that they will not be disturbd
for at least two or three years.
The Department OF Justice. which has
for years been desirous of getting out
OF its present quarters In three made
over residence buildings at Fifteenth
ana X streets northwest, attempted to
get an appropriation for a new build
failed in the Senate aSs Meanwhile sfa HGuse tSere
are invaluable records stored In nom
fireproof buildings. and even pantries,
Kitchens. and servants quarters are
utilized as office rooms for officials.
Unwilling to wait for Congress to act,
the Department OF Commerce arranged
with private contractors to put up a
building for its exclusive use. There
ts a flve-year lease on this building,
which expires in March, 1919. The de-
partment pays &65,60O yearly rental for
this building.
On One-vear Lease.
The Department OF Labor has a one
year lease on its present building at
Seventeenth and Pennsylvania avenue,
for which 1t pays $4,000 a year rent.
TT ere has been a Gue stion as to whether
the site at Fifteenth and Pennsylvania
avenue will be available for the con-
struction of a Labor Department build
Ing. as the appropriation bill under
which the property was acquired pro-
vided that building for the Depart
ment Of Commerce and Labor should be