Arizona republican., 1922-06-04
BY Frederic ]. rfaskin

WASHINGTON, May S1.--In the
vigorous hunt for more ways Of saw
ing a dollar, congress is keeping an
eagle eye on the governments hous-
ing bill. The government clerk may
work in granite masterpiece OF
Greek architecture that suggests a
large and lavish scale of admins
tration, but the classic edifice is run
on a strictly modern, save-the-
pennies basis.
The government is the largest
property owner in the United States.
Besides the great department build
ings in Washington each costing
several million dollars, it owns Of
fices all over the country. These in
clude 1850 postoffices, ranging in
value from the small town building
worth only a few thousand dollars
to the Chicago postoffice, which cost
more than $5,000,000.
Economy is now the watchword in
the management of all this property
Take the stucco buildings which
sprang up to house the army of war
Stenographers and filing clerks in the
capital. About 10000 war workers
have departed and whole blocks of
the tempos, as the war buildings
were called, have been struck like
circus tents. But some are needed
because Washington still has twice as
many clerks as in pre-war days.
The tempos near Potomac park
stand o. leased land and the lease
is about to expire. Furthermore, the
owners want a higher rate OF rent,
and if the government turns the
property back to the owners it must
tear down its stucco buildings and
even pay for the structures that stood
on the land when it took possession.
In this dilemma the government
finds one satisfactory way out 1t
can buy the land for $780, 900, about
what three years rent would cost.
Congress is considering this obvious
ly economical measure and approval
is said TO be certain. The temporary
buildings are regarded as good for
several years, and after that the gov
ernment will still have the land as
site for permanent structures.
Across the street from some of
these temporary offices is another
government problem. Here are two
buildings, Joined by passageways,
which together make the largest Of
flee building in the world. They are
the Navy and Munitions buildings.
They contain 100000 square feet of
space, and some of the corridors are
1900 feet long.
These record breaking office build
ings are bone of contention because
they We're put up as temporary war
structures. They stand firmly enough
on government owned ground, but the
lard is a part of Potomac park and
the city planning scheme calls for the
removal Of the prosaic buildings to
develop the park.
Economy Is Wstehword
The buildings are modern in every
respect and are extremely solid for
temporary construction. II they had
been built across the street on the
leased ground which the government
is now buying they would have stood
unchallenged and serviceabIe for at
least Is years to come. They may
stand for years as it is. The two
buildings together cost more than
S7,000,000. They house several thou
sand workers who would have to be
provided for somewhere IL the biggest
government office unit were scrapped.
Economy and the city beautiful idea
are contesting over this situation,
and economy has the advantage now.
Its cause is being advanced for the
government by public buildings
commission at the capitol This COM
mission has for its ultimate aim the
removal of every government office
in Washington from rented building
space. The department of agricul-
ture. which is housed in 26 different
buildings. about half Of which are
rented is an example of the prob
lens which confront the commission.
The public buildings commission is
out to save the government money.
and It points proudly to the fact that