Evening star., 1921-10-07
ARCHIVES BUILDING
FIRST NEED HERE,
SHERR|LL ADVISES
Army Officer Asks Provision
+. at Once for Erection of
Structure.
SAYS ACCOUNTING OFFICE
IS NEXT IN IMPORTANCE
Third in Order of Construction as
Recommended Is for Housing
Internal Revenue.

4uItTudl heVcQue.
Immediate provision for the con-
struction of an archives building
mere to house the valuable govern
ment records now stored in various
parts of the city and in places where.
IN many instances. the fire danger;
are great, has been recommended to
the public buildings commission b.:
Lieut.. Col. Clarence o. Sheriff.. th,.
Army officer in charge of public
buildings and grounds, and a men,
Der of the commission.
WhIle this is considered by Col
Sherrill as the first and most i'm
perative need at this time. he also
urges the construction of a building
TO house the widely scattered actfvi-
ties Of the general accounting office,
and last, but not any less impor-
tant, the construction of a building
to house the activities of the bureau
OF internal revenue This latter bu-
reau also is scattered in various parts
of the city, some Of il in the tenn
porary buildings, which Col Sheriff.
estimates will not last. at the most,
more than ten or fifteen years.
Suggests Fund This Year.
Col. Sherrill's recommendatio urge
appropriation this year of funds nee
essary for the construction of the
archives building. not only because
the need is an imperative one. but
aiso because of the fact that Congress
has authorized the building and the
1urchase of site. but has not ap-
propriated any funds for it,
Ihe following year. in his opinion.
provision should be made for begin
ming the construction of the building
TOT the general accounting office.
winch is new branch of the gov
ernment established this year to take
over the activities of the controller
OF the treasury and the several audi
tors ior the government departments
Under the old organization it worked
wen to have the auditors and the
controller in various parts of the city.
put under the new order of things it
is absolutely necessary and in the in
terest OF greater efficiency to have the
entire Office under one roof
when these two buildings are pro-
vioed for and construction has start
ed, Col Sheriff. would have Congress
make provision for placing the bureau
OF internal revenue in separate
building. so that all the activities
could be assembled for efficient man
agement.
Recognizes Economy Need.
In making these recommendations
Col. Sheriff. stated that he was not
unmindful of the Presidents de-
termination and of the urgent neces-
slty for rigid economy in government
operations, but he believes that i'm
mediate provision for these buildings
nd hot - I,.
really be economy to provide them
other estimates coming within the
wide scope of his office have been
trimmed to the bone. he pointed out.
but in the face of the demand for
great economy he believes the con-
struction of these buildings at the
earliest possible moment is a prime
necessity. For instance. Col. Sheriff.
pointed out that the estimates for
the extension of Rock Creek Park
from 100000 to 100000. and that the
estimates for other parks had been
greatly reduced. He said that in the
park estimates only those which were
absolutely necessary were included.
The estimates for the State, War and
Navy building also were greatly re-
duced.
No estimate of the amounts which
should be appropriated for these
buildings is included in the recon-
recommendations to the amount of
space. He pointed out to the COM
mission that 100000 square feet is
needed for the building for the bu-
reau of internal revenue and 800. 900
square feet for the general account
ing Office.
Storage space for the valuable gov
ernmental records requires hundreds
of thousands of square feet Col
Sheriff. pointed out that the draft
records of men of the late war now
occupy 100000 square feet alone in 4
building in Washington barracks. and
that records stored in temporary
building now occupy 225,00o square
feet, to say nothing of the thousands
of square feet which will be needed
for the dead" records of other gov
ernment departments.
Exposed to Fire Hazards.
Many of these valuable records now
are stored in buildings wholly un-
suited 10 the purpose and constantly
exposed to fire hazards. The greater
part of the records are of such a ma
ture that they can never be replaced,
once destroyed.
The housing of governmental ac-
tivities. even at this time, Col. Sher-
rill said. is serious proposition. To
move out one branch of the govern
ment into some other building merely
relieves crowding in one place and
shifts it to another.
Even the new bureau of engraving
and printing is in need of more space.
he said, and efforts now are being made
to relieve the conditions. Engravers and
transfers at the bureau now are work
ing in cramped and poorly lighted quar-
ters, whereas their work requires the
best woking conditions, he pointed out.
The activities OF the bureau of inter-
nal revenue are scattered and the effec-
tive promotion of the work of this
branch of the government is seriously
hampered. Not until a separate build
ing. in which the numerous branches
can be put under one roof, is provided
will it be able to work effectively
The placing Of the need for general
accounting quarters in one building sec
ond was due to the fact that the need for
this was made by the law which COM
bined the activities of this Office This
bureau now is scattered in fifteen build
ings in various parts of the city, and
there is no government space now Avail
able which would permit of the transfer
of the numerous Offices to one building