Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-05-05
FEDE RAL-OWNED
P. D. BUILDINGS
ARE ADVOCATED
Old System of the Govern
ment Leasing Housing
Facilities Should Be
Strapped, Bartlett States
tBy The Associated Press.)

Washington, May 4. - Every
postoffice building in the country
should be owned by the govern
ment and the old system of leas-
ing buildings should be ''scrapped,"
declared First Assistant Postmas-
ter General Bartlett today in voic.
ing disapproval of a system which
made it necessary for the postof-
flee department recently to lease
at an annual rental of more than
a million dollars a large structure
for mail purposes In New York
City. Mr.. Bartlett said that the
government could save millions If
a common sense business program
could be laid before congress with
a fair chance of inducing that
body to appropriate sufficient
sum each year for purchase instead
of leasing buildings.
Has Sufficient Funds.
The postoffice department has
sufficient funds to lease any build
ing to be necessary to the proper
conduct of the postal system, it
was explained, but no appropria-
ton is available for the purchase
Of structure. Plans recently
were completed providing that the
department should lease a build
ing in New York City for twenty
years at rental of $25,000,000.
Had the department been permit
ted by congress to purchase land
and erect its own building, the
whole transaction could have been
handled for about SS.O00,00O, Mr..
Bartlett explained, adding that at
the end of the twenty-year period
the government would have pos
sessed the building, whereas under
the lease the government will be
out $25,O00,000 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
general said. Each year congress
should set aside a certain sum to
be used in the construction of
buildings and gradually as leases
expire all over the country the de-
partment would find itself the pos
SCISSOR of a system of splendid
structures. This method would re-
suit in the saving of millions of
dollars to the public. In many in
stances the government Is made
10 pay exorbitant rent. For in
stance the department will lease
I building in a small community
For ten years. and because of the
postoffice site property In its VII
cinity will increase in value, the |
population OF the town may in |
crease ten-fold, and when the lease |
expires the owner Of the property |
very frequently demands about |
three or four times the original |
rental and we are obliged to pay
t or look for some other property"
Opposed Recommendation.
Mr.. Bartlett said he opposed the |
action of the joint postal commits
sion In recommending the lease Of |
he New York building. The COM
mission felt, however, It was said.
hat congress would likely oppose
such a move at this time and sug-
sested that in view of congested
in the metropolis a
ease be negotiated.
In this instance" Mr.. Bartlett
aid, "the owners of the land and
hose who will erect the new build
ng which is to be used as an an
lex to the present posoffice build
ng, will be obliged to pay taxes,
borrow money at the rate possibly
II 7 per cent. and meet other con-
litions which of course would not
lave to be observed by the govern
nent. The same condition pre-
'ails throughout the United States
md the sooner congress and the
,eople realize what 1t is costing in
dollars and cents the sooner cor
ective measures will be taken"