Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-30
What q. S. Pays in Rent.

w nat ". y. rays IN Kent.
The United States government is now
paying $605.000 per annum for rented
buildings in Washington. Most of the
buildings occupied are remodeled dwell
ngs. The business of the government
is scattered helter-skelter all over
Washington. Several of the depart
ments are working under disadvan-
tages which are almost unbelievable
The Department of Justice is in dire
need of more adequate quarters. Plans
for government building for this most
important department have already
been made. The building should be
built. Yet no one can severely blame
the Department of Justice when, fail
ing to get the money from Congress
with which to erect the building it
needs, it consents to the makeshift dis
closed in the above clause from House
bill 1901
The bill introduced into Congress
last year by the Attorney General. and
providing for the erection of the build
ing for the Department of Justice in
accordance with the plans which were
accepted by the government was with
drawn in favor of another bill intro
duced by the Secretary of the Treas
uhy. and providing for violation of
the solemn agreement entered into by
the government with the architect
who won the competition instituted
in 1910. The clause in H. r. 12207 now
appears to bear A relation to the hith-
erto inexplicable mystery which has
seemed to surround the attempt to Sc
cure a new building for the Depart
ment of Justice.
H. r. 12207 also reveals the newest
method of mulcting the government in
ment can enter into a lease for longer
than one year. except upon authority
of Congress. The authority to be grant
ed in the proposed appropriation would
cover a five-year lease at $4,000 per
annum. in the case of the Department
of Justice. In this instance. as in the
past, there is no doubt tacit under
standing that the department Will re-
new the lease for another five years.
Otherwise the building would be al
most impossible to finance.
Government Pays Is Per Cent.
Let us see what happens in these
cases The Bieber building and the
navy building are two of the more
recent buildings erected in this man.
ner. The financial process is simple.
Preliminary estimates prepared by
real estate interests lead the govern
ment to believe that the building is
to cost a certain sum of money. The
rental is then fixed at 10 per cent of
the supposed cost. In the case of the
two buildings above cited the build
ings were sold. after completion, at
price equal to ten times the rental paid
by the government, and the builders are
currently reported to have taken cash
profit on 100000 in each case. Thus
the government actually pays about
Is per cent per annum on the cost of
the investment, for rental alone, since
the leases provide that heat. light,
janitor and elevator service are pro-
happens is that the leases are capital
lied at 10 per cent and sold, the build
being thrown in!
NO more ruinous policy could pos
sibly be pursued. Strong efforts in
Washington are now conferred upon
the erection by the govern
ment of any new buildings. Real
estate owners know that they never
could rent the buildings now occupied
by the government If they are vacated
hreproof Office buildings" such as are
called for in II. r. 122O7 are thus be-
ing scattered all over Washington.
rhe buildings are generally incon-
gruous in character, offensively located,
and continuing policy of erecting |
structures of this character can only |
result in the architectural ruination |
IF the great capital. Some of them |
ire planned and designed to be con-
,erted into apartment houses-one of
hem has been arranged for conversion |
nto a hotel.
Administration after administration
las pursued this policy, because 1t 10
always so much easier for the party in
power to make leases at exorbitant
.ates rather than to try to justify ex-
,enditures which would be infinitely
cheaper to the nation in the long run.
The hand of our political system lies
,eayy on the wise and judicious de-
yeiopment of the capital and upon all
fort properly to house the business of
he government in a dignifed and eff
lent manner Do the people of the
United States know what Congress Is
Ioing to their capital city? ! believe
lot-but 1 believe they Will not longer
olerate such policy il the facts
an be laid before them.
CHARLES HARRIS whitaker"