Evening star., 1921-05-04
BUILDING UPKEEP
IDEAS EXCHANGED
Newly Organized Association
of U. S. Superintendent
Discusses Efficiency.

There was q general discussion and
interchange of ideas for the better
ment and the promotion Of efficiency
in their respective departments by
the members of the newly organized
Association of Government Bul idlng
Superint endents. who met last night
in the grillroom. on the top floor or
the Interior Department. The chief
subject of discussion was that OF cost
accounting and questlonnalre re
garding the purchase and issuance Of
supplies for the various government
buildings.
The occasion was the monthly meet
ing of the association. and prior to the
discussion of business dinner was
served
In the absence OF James F. Gill.
president, r. H. Chappell, superntend-
ent of the bureau of engraving and
printing building. presided. The prin-
cipal address of the evening was made
by James L. Wilmeth. director Of the
bureau OF engraving and printing:
who formerly was superintendent of
the Treasury Department building.
Discussing principally the various
methods of properly caring for the
physical condition of the public build
ings and the best methods for the
and supplies, Director Wilmeth de-
clared that to do these things prop
eriy and to the best interests of the
government requires eternal vigilance
and efficient organization on the part
of building superintendents He said
that the disposition of useless mate
rial and the proper calculation of
building and machine depreciation
are necessary factors in the general
efficient operation of big institutions.
F. l.. Averill Talks.
F. L. Averill, who has charge of
the Library of Congress building,
gave an account of the methods used
by him in keeping this large building
clean and in perfect condition. He
paid a high tribute to the char force.
to which, he said. was due much of
the credit for the cleanliness of the
building.
Others who spoke were r. II. Chap
pell. H. +. Dameron. secretary and
treasurer of the association and su-
perintendent of the war risk build
ing. and Harold Tomlin. inspector in
charge of the Interior Department
building.
Besides those mentioned there was
in attendance at the meeting John
Harvey. chief clerk of the Interior
Department.; S. II. Marks, assistant
| chief clerk. Treasury Department.; c.
A. Harbaugh. Treasury Department.: !:
| Charles f.. Turner. Red Cross build
ing; H. G. Porter. Civil Service Com
mission building: X. l.. Woodward,
| Civil Service Commission: T. j.
Howell assistant chief clerk. Post
Office Department. and W. f. Wilson.
| NJ. B. French. H. r. Owen. w. II. Ire =
| land and Alexander B. Eodie. all of
| the State. War and Navy building.
Membership of Twenty-six.
| The association has a membership
of twenty-six. representing twelve
executive departments and independ-
| ent establishments of the government,
, the American Red Cross and the Uni
versity Of Maryland. 1t was formed
| for the purpose of furthering the in
! terest of the government through an
, interchange of methods and experi-
ences Of it's members. in the hope
that more efficient methods Of organ
; ization and operation might result.
One Of the objects in forming the
association was because Congress now
requires report annually as to cost
of operation per square foot of all
buildings occupied by the governm ent
in the District of Columbia 1t has
been learned through the medium of
the monthly meetings that these re-
ports vary according to the opinion
Of the superintendents in different
departments. some including items of
expense which others do not include.
The association is endeavoring to
adopt a more uniform method.