South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-05-05
BARTLETT SAYS
j. S. SHOULD OWN
P. 0. BUILDINGS
Declares Old System of Leas-
ing Buildings Should Be
Strapped.

y
postotlcc building in the country
should bc owned by the government
and the Old system OF leasing build
iugs should DE "scIapped. declared
Irst Assistant Postmaster Bartlett
today in volcing disapprovaI OF
system which male IL necessary for
the postofice department recently to
tease at an annual rental OF more
than a million dollars a large struc.
ture for mail purposes in New York
City Mr.. Bartlett said that the GOV
eminent could save millions If "A
common sense business program
could be laid before congress with
a fair chance of inducing that body
to appropriate a sufficient sum each
year for purchase instead Of leasing
buildings
The postoffice department has
sufficient funds 10 lease any building
10 be necessary 20 the proper con
Duct Of the postal system. It was ex-
planned. but no appropriation is
available for the purchase of a struc-
ture. Plans recently were completed
providing that the department
should lease a building in New York
City for 20 years at a rental of S25.-
100000. Had the department been
Permitted by congress to purchase
land and erect its own building. the
whole transa ction could have hand
led for about $4,000 900. Mr.. Bart
lett explained. adding that at the
end of the 20 year period the gov
eminent would have possessed the
building. whereas under the lease
the government Will be out $4,000.
600 and have nothing to show for it
at the expiration of the lease
The whole system is radically
wrong and should be changed at
once. the assistant postmaster gen
eral said. Each year congress
should set aside a certain sum to be
used in the construction of build
ings and gradually as leases expire
all over the country the department
would find itself the possessor of a
system of splendid structures This
method would result in the saving
of millions of dollars to the public
In many instances the government
is made 20 pay eXOrbitant rent For
instance the department Will lease q
building in a small community for
10 years. and because of the post
office site. property in its vicinity will
Increase in va.ue, the population Of
the town may increase ten-fold. and
when the lease expires the owners
of the property very frequently de-
mand about three or four times the
original rental and we are obligated
TO pay it or look for some other
property"
Mr. Bartlett said he opposed the
action of the Joint Postal Commits
sion IN recommending the lease Of
the New York building The COM
mission felt. however. it was said.
that congress would likely oppose
such a move at this time and sug-
gested that in view of congested con-
ditions in the metropolis a lease be
Negotiated.
I'm this instance" Mr. Bartlett
said. the owners of the land and
those who viii erect the new build
ing which is 10 be used as an annex
to the present pOstofice building,
will be obliged 10 pay taxes. borrow
money at the rate possibly of Z per-
cent. and meet other conditions
which OF course would not have to
be observed by the government The
same condition prevails throughout
the United States and the sooner
congress and the people realize what
it is costing in dollars and cents the
sooner corrective measures viii be
taken"