The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-04

modulated red of the tunic in the
portrait group. which. like the frankly
conventional sky of the background,
can scarcely be %reconciled with the
realistic modelling of the faces.
Architects have lost none of their
interest In the much discussed De-
partment of Justice Building which
has been held up by he present Adj
ministration. Dom Barber. the archi-
tect. won the original competition in
1910. During the present Administra-
ton, however. the Department of Jus
tice has ceased to exhibit n interest
In the matter and there have been no
steps TO go on with the construction
of the building. Charles Harris Whit
aker in "a recent number of the Jour
nal OF the American Institute Of Archi-
tects has the following account of
House bill l2207. making a%ppropria-
tions for the legislative. executive and
judicial expenses of the Government
for the ensuing year. which contains
the two following items:
THE Acknowledgement is author
lied to enter into a contract for the
lease of a modern freproof Office
building for the use of the Department
Of Justice for a period not to exceed
I'VE wears. renewable. at the option OF
the Government. for an additional pc
riod not exceeding five years. at an
nnual rental not exceeding $50. 900
and q rate per Oim per square foot
of available floor space not TO ex-
coed thirty-siX and three-tenths cents"
The Secretary of Labor is author
ized 10 enter into a contract for the
lease of a modern fireproof building
Tor the Use of the Department Of
Labor for q period not to exceed five
years. renewable. at the option of the
Government, for an additional period
not to exceed five years. at an annual
rental not exceeding s24, 900 M "a rate
per annum per square foot of avail
able floor space not to exceed thirty
SIX and thrce-tenths cents"
The price per square foot of noor
space Is inserted merely IS a Stipula-
ton that 100. 900 square feet mus, he
provided for the Department of Jus
tlce and $1,000 for the Department or
Labor. In the weakness Of that pro-
vision without relation to cost is found
the opportunity for making the Gov
ernmen pay an extort.onat, rental. as
| shall show.
The United States Government =
now paying $685.. 600 per annum fnr
rented buildings in Washington Mos,
OF the buildings occupied are rcmod.
ellod dwellings. warehouses or com
merclal buildings. The business of the
government L. scattered h"ltcrSkr,tcr
all over Washington. ScVe'at of the
departments are working under dis.
advantages which are almost M
belicvable. The Department Of Jul
tice is in dire need Of more adequate
quarters. Plans for a Government
building for this most important do
partment have already been mad.
The building should be built. Vet n
one can severely blame the Depart
ment Of Justice when. failing to get
the money from Congress with which
to erect the building It needs, u con-
sents tn h makeshift disclosed in the
above clause from House bill 1a2o7.
The hill introduced into Congress
last year by the Acknowledgement and
providing for the erection OF tho build
, ing for the Department Of Justice in
accordance with the plans which were
accepted by the Government was
WITHDRAWN in favor of another bill. IN
~troducsd by he Secretary Of the
Treasury. and providing for a violation
of the solemn agreement entered INTO
hy the Government with the architect
WI" Won the competition Instituted IN
1910. h opinion Was freely expressed
in VOL Informed circles that III. I.,,.r
bill was introduced for tho sole pir-
pose Of exciting such opposition. rs a
breach NJ faith. as 10 prevent its pas
sage and thus again thwart the project
for a new building. That is precisely
what did happen and the similar NIl
introduced this year again was sioutly
opposed by the American Institute of
Architects. which contendcd that the