Evening star., 1921-07-07
ARCHIVES BUILDING
IS REVIVED
Economy and Efficiency Are
Sought-Bring Together
Scattered Files.

Renewal of efforts for an archives
building here, where the old govern
ment records, many of which are
priceless and are now allowed to re-
pose in unsafe. non-hreproof build
ings, may be stored IL forecast by
government officials as a part Of the
new administration's economy and ef-
.flciency steps. .t....
Saying. Of thousands Of dollars to
the government also Is expected to
come 8 a resule of efforts which the
efficiency experts are now making to
get all of the branches of each bu-
reau under one roof. Many of the
bureaus now have their divisions
scattered in various parts of the city,
and are prevented from efficiently
carrying out their duties by the delay
III getting papers and files from place
to place. . -..-
Six Divisions Scattered.
Particularly expensive is the work
Of the office Of the controller general
of the United States. Controller Gen
eral McCarl pointed out today that
six of his divisions now are scattered
all over the city. These were formerly
the offices of the auditors for the
various departments.
This situation, he said, contributes
to delay in carrying on government
work. He said that when an attorney
many times he found that he must
have additional information. Most of
the time this information is in an
office in another part of the city, and
he must set the case aside and await
the arrival of the information before
he can continue. This makes for
great delay. causes the work to pile
up, and Is a direct cause of heavy
increases in the expense Of conducting
the governmental business.
Much money could be saved the
government by placing all the
branches and divisions of a particu-
All the files would be in one place
under such a system, and an attorney
with case would be able to go to
the file room in a few minutes, and
with minimum delay and expense
would be able to get the additional in
formation needed and keep the gov
ernmental business moving efficiently.
Just as soon as he perfects the re-
organization of his Office made necs-
sary by the cutting down Of the ap-
preparation allowance. he said. he in
ecioS " tdh0 uP SIuOy Inc matter
of getting the branches of his office
together on an efficient plane with
a view to conducting it at minimum
Of expense.
The Instructions Of Brig. Gen.
Charles G. Dawes. chief of the budget.
to department and bureau heads to
make an investigation with a view
to removing old files to less expen-
eive Ming cabinets has brought to the
fore again the question Of an ar
known, have hesitated to remove
their old files to other places because
of the danger of fire; but the de-
mand Of the budget director that
this be done brings up again the
great need Of a large f1re-proof vault
building where the government rec
ords can be stored.
The matter Of getting divisions of
q particular bureau now divided nm
der one roof is being studied by the
efficiency experts. and 1t is expected
that orders for changes will be forfh-
coming in q short time, when space is
found for certain bureaus. The con-
solidation Of f1fe4k 1t is expected. will
leave . great am0dnt Of space IN bu-
reaus Of the. government, and when
these are stored 1t is believed. that
many Of the bureaus will find that
they get along with less space, and
the efficiency experts will: be able TO
work out q plan for grouping divt-
sions In close proximity.