Evening star., 1916-12-13
THINKS BUILDING
PROGRAM SCANDAL
C. H. Whitaker Tells Civic AS
sociation U. S. Should Have
Some Better System.
BRANCHES BADLY HOUSED

The government building problem
has developed to point where no other
word can describe it but scandal"
Charles H. Whitaker. editor of the
Journal of the American Institute of
Architects, told the delegates to the
twelfth annual convention of the
lard this morning.
"Thc various branches are housed in
the most ill-assorted. decrepit and in
adequate set of buildings probably ever
occupied by any government, paying
an annual rental of s650.000 for the
many it does not own. This has an evil
effect on local real estate interests. and
the factor of speculation in buildings
to be rented causes reckless waste and
extravaganza" he said.
THE omnibus public buildings bill
is the biggest item fn the annual
debauchery of the communities of this
country IT contains AIS items calling
for S35. 100000. nearly all of which
have not been properly investigated.
According to the seemingly usual pro-
portion of pork s2S.060.000 of this ex-
penditure is to go for the benefit OF
democrats and the remaining sl2, 100000
for that of republicans"
Conditions Must Be Corrected.
Mr.. Whitaker made his denunciation
in no uncertain terms and told the dele
gates that the institute represented by
him believes that no architectural de-
velopment is possible until funda-
mental conditions are corrected and,
specifically, that the institute feels that
in the establishment of an expert CON-
mission to study the problems of gov
ernment buildings lies the only possible
solution.
John L. Weaver of this city. vice
president of the National Association of
Real Estate Boards with membership
of more than 1000 firms, in conveying
convention greetings on behalf of his
organization, said that If there was an
impression that local real estate inter-
ests have ever worked against the crea-
facilities. he could confidently state
that it was unfounded. On the other
hand. he claimed, the erection of per-
manent suitable federal buildings
would, in the end. benefit real estate
values and the consequent prosperity
of real estate firms. He explained that
grave faults in the laws under which
the government rents premises are re-
sDonsible for a situation which, he said
M Whitaker had accurately described
When your advice is adopted and
better homes and living conditions are
produced. our business and its returns
will be improved" He asked for the
co-operation of the association in fur
thering improvements i'll the now anti
quated system of preserving title rec
ords and in the establishment of mar
ket values in the real estate business
Address of Col. Kutz.
1T is the aim of the District Com
missioners to make Washington an
ideal and model American city and in
this your association can be most help
full" said Engineer Commissioner
Charles w kutz. who extended the
welcome to the convention. 1T is the
only city in which all your members
have common interest
1. Horace Mcfarland of Harrisburg.
Pa. the president. in responding said
that the beauty and excellent civic con-
ditions OF the Capital city are testi-
monial to the vigor. devotion to ideals
and public spirit of the successive
boa rds of Commissioners.
The morning session. which was the first
of the three-day convention proceedings,
was devoted entirely to discussion Of
related civic advance contributed to by
representatives Of organizations having