The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-09-14
u. S. HAS. MONUMENT
TO OFFICIAL WASTE
OFFICE SUPPLIES WORTH ST.
100000 FILL DESERTED BAR
RACKS IN WASHINGTON.
LOT STORED ELSEWHERE
Six Hundred Surplus Truckloads Fill
Other Warehouses. Valuable Type
writers and Other Equipment That
Were Bought During the War.

writers and Other Equipment That
Were Bought During the War.
WASHINGTON, D. c. Taxpayer
visitors in Washington, who are in
terested in the present cost Of main
tanning the government, can CLEAN
more information from visit to Po-
tomac park, supposedly one Of the
show spots of the city, chan by any
inquiries they may make at the
treasury department. In a series of
dilapidated barracks in that park
there are stored more than 81 $780,
900 worth Office supplies that would
delight the heart of many business
man.
There are difficulties to be sur
mounted, however, if close inspec-
ton is to be made. Signs warn yisi-
| tors away from certain of the build
ings Sagging and bullying walls point
| to an early collapse, but they still
are filled with material acquired by
the various government departments
during the war, and now regarded
as surplus. Those buildings that are
not approaching a state of dilapida-
ton leak in places, and all are more
than a mile from the nearest fire
station, with nothing but hand ex-
tinguisher in each in case Of fire.
1000 Typewriters Stored.
Building after building is filled
with desks, used by the men who
fought the ''Battle of Washington,
but now surplus. There are more
than 1000 typewriters stored in two
buildings alone, yet the business man
who wishes to buy a typewriter now
finds he may have to wait week
or two before he can get delivery.
There are thousands of chairs, in
Vulnerable waste baskets, squads of
filing cases and other forms of office
equipment, apparently in sufficient
quantity to fit out all of the offices
in an average size city. Only so
much of this material as the govern
ment finally classifies as junk reach
es the market; the rest is being held
for some indefinite day when it may
be needed by one of the departments
Stored as If is, it is more likely to
return to dust.
600 Truckloads Not Included.
And that does not include all OF
the surplus of that character own
ed bv the government. Officials, to
whose attention the condition of the
barracks has been called, complain
because they are not empowered to
build an adequate storehouse, where
600 truckloads of such equipment,
now resting in the halls of various
government buildings, may be plac-
ed.
A recent protest of the fire mar
shall of the District of Columbia
caused little cleanup in the stor-
age district. Weeds, higher than
mans head, were cut away from
around the fire plugs, but the SER
viceable autos, desks. typeWrlters
and other equipment that clutter up
the landscape of the capitals show
park apparently are to remain until
time and governmental red tape en-
gulf them.
MANY USELESS POSITIONS.
St. Louisa survey of govern
ment positions designed to weed out
useless ones was urged at the con-
vention of the National Federation
of Federal Employees, which opened
here today.
Speakers asserted an examination
of every position should be made to
ascertain it's necessity. All unneces-
sary positions should be abolished
Immediately, they declared, SO that
holders of important positions could
be paid higher wages.
Luther c. Steward, of Washing
ton. president of the association, de-
clared there were $4,000 adults in
the government employ receiving
less than SO day. He added that
about half the $4,000 civilians in
the service were being paid salaries
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