The Washington times., 1916-12-17
THE PUBLIC BUILDING WASTE

The other day Congressman Fresr
Of Wisconsin, who has become a pork
expert, delivered a speech in the
House Of Representatives analysing
the public building bill Of this SEES.
sion. The last public building bill
exceeded the $4,000, 900 mark before
II finally passed; IL was necessary
to pitch in number Of extra hunks
to buy the votes insuring its accept
ance.
That bill, under examination, look
ed like about 80 per cent waste. II
received twenty minutes debate, and
there was no roll call on IL. II Is
within fairness to say that, in the
bill that is contemplated for this ses-
sion, not 20 per cent Of the buildings
authorized would be able to muster
a majority vote in either chamber IL
they had TO be voted upon separately.
Bunching them all together, and Civ
inS brides to enough constituencies
and representatives Of constituent
cies. the measure as an omnibus
proposition will probably pass.
But 1t would not pass IL the coun-
try realized what II means. Here Is
a paragraph suggesting its meaning.
from Mr.. Frear's recent speech. He
quoted from the Public Buildings
Commission Of 1913, which after
showing the wrong Of the present
system recommended n business,like
one to be substituted. The commits
sion said:
In twelve years ,iss.osS.Ssi has been
authorized for public buildings. The
act OF 1919 authorized al .IsI $50. or over
- per cent OF the total on January
!; 1919. s' buildings had been completed.
no more were In course Of construe.
ton. 80 more authorized on sites not
built. and lS more authorized sites
for buildings had not been purchased.
The architects offlce IL able TO prepare
for about scyenty-five buildings annual
Is. and. according TO information re-
Ceivcd. that office has not yet caught
up with the demands OF hungry con-
stitucncies, ~ set forth In the figures
cited.
Another significant fact Is disclosed.
The average annual operating cost for
t36 postofhces. including heat, light and
so forth. Is s?.59t BuedinEs costing
T5.0o averaged t2.a20. and buildings
costipg sH0.000 averaged si.si5 annually.
To THIS cost should be added = per cent
annual Interest ON the investment.
which makes the annual cost 10 the
Government on s5O,000 buildings s3.3i5
ana on $4,000 buildings $3.50 To this
total must also be added depreciation
charges Of approximately 10 per
cent annually, TO include repairs, These
figures should be kept In mind when
ascertalning the pronigate waste piled
up by those bills.
The highest rental paid by the Gov
crnment to my one OF the sos postof-
hces having over $1,000 annual receipts
and occupying leased quarters In 0.5S0.
and the lowest rental $751; annually Al
'1S offices the rental " less than 81 900,
and at 1870 offices the rental exceeds
1000. For the $3.50 postoffces OF a ~
classes and branches The average an
nual rental IN 1913 was SEA
In other-words. II now costs the Cow
eminent annually about SS4 on the ay-
GRACE To rent offices which will cost
over S,3l5 annually when 10000 build
inPs are erected, and Si.5I6 when .he
cost reaches $4,000 for building and
site. Other costs, present and pros
Dective, viii be set forth more IN de-
tail when specific items are discussed.