Evening star., 1922-09-22
FEDERAL BUILDING
PROGRAM is URGED

@S1Uu'@ 0Ove0vtv0
PROGRAM IS URGED
Continued from First Page)
country had waited long enough
nearly ten years-for an omnibus
public buildings bill, and that he pro-
posed to present one to the next ses-
sion OF the present Congress.
Plans Archives BaiIdfnE.
Washington is going to receive i'm
mediate consideration in the omnibus
public buildings bill through pro-
vision for hall Of records. or &n
archives building"
The hall of records will cost sev-
eral million dollars. and while no site
has been definitely determined, Chair
man Langley stated that his COM
mittee and the public buildings COM
mission are pretty we'll agreed that
1t would be advantageously located
between 18th and 18th streets. on
Ohio avenue.
While designed to fit in architec-
turally with the general scheme for
beautiffcation of the capital, Chair
man Langley emphasized that the
principal consideration will be safety
less documents and records which are
now. he said. dumped as waste paper
in fire-traps." He stressed that the
proper fling and storage of these
documents will not only be real
economy in releasing much needed
space in the various departments, but
that the documents in many cases are
such that their loss would place the
government at the mercy of thou
sands of unscrupulous persons who
would see chance to mulct the gov
ernment on claims already paid. but
for which the vouchers could not be
produced.
Representative Langley says that
several other public buildings should
be speedily erected upon grounds now
owned and set apart by the govern
mept for different government func-
tions. He is unalterably opposed, he
says. to the plan which is being put
into operation. to contract with pri-
vate parties to erect colossal build
ings in cities. to be rented at rate
of 10 per cent per annum, so that at
the end of ten years the builders will
have been reimbursed for their ex-
penditures and the buildings will go
back into the hands of private par
ties. and the government as result
will be In a worse fix than it is now.
Mr.. Langley contends that this sit
uation emphasizes the necessity for
the speedy enactment of an omnibus
public buildings bill. which his COM
mtttee is now getting ready to pre-
pare. and that he intende to report
it to the Congress at it's next session.
Favers Original Plans.
In referring to the buildings on the
Union Station plaza. Representative
Langley said that he thought the
original plan Of identifying those
grounds should be carried out, or that
the buildings should be utilized for
the housing Of government functions
now occupying rented buildings. and
that aside from his antipathy to the
idea Of the government being in the
hotel business. he thinks that it is
who have been occupying these build.
ing on that theory, although the war
has been over nearly four years,
should continue to occupy them; and
that in addition to this consideration,
there is no reason why $500 or 1000
be treated as special wards of the
government, while the 10000 or 10000
other employees in Washington are
willing to look out for themselves in
the matter OF accommodations.
He also stated that he has received
within the past few days lists of more
than a thousand rooms and apart
ments that are available for rental at
reasonable rates, and that these are
not in undesirable sections; but In re-
spsetabls sections 81 tse lseFsy city In the
Chairman Langley also points out
that the Hooe building, now occupied
!! by the prohibition unit, costs the gov
ernment rental OF about $4,000 q
year, and that there are several other
reau and other departments of the
government which could easily be
housed in these. Plaza buildings, as
they arc constructed In manner to
make them available for government
work for many years.
Sees Further Economy.
His estimate is that these Plaza
buildings, with slight alterations to
suit the needs Of the different gov
ernment activities which. he thinks,
ought to be transferred there, the
government will not only save the
rent Of $4,000 q year being paid for
! tho Hooe building, but that other
branches Of the service could be
transferred to, those buildings and
,, save from 3l5o.00o to 100000 a year
to the government.
III this can be DONE" he argues.
what, justification 10 tnere for having
q few favored individuals who perplex
and bother the government, to say
nothing Of the numerous high -salaTted
positions In connection with the su-
pervision Of these buildings, and to
the exclusion Of fifteen Or twenty
times az many other government en-
ployes In Washington who haye never
had these advantages. when the gov
ernment can save. this enormous
amount Of money and put all govern
ment employees on an exact equality
20 tar as housing Recommendations are
concerned?' ....,-
converting these buildings for gov
e1nment occupancy, Mr.. Langley SAID:
II do not care to mix up in the con-
troversy that they are having over
there from time to time. What want
ID to save a. much money to the gov
ernment a. possible, and to pave the
way toward housing all government
|activities In Warrington In govern
msnt-olvned buildings and thus cut
or this enormous rent. IT these plaza
buildings are suitable for government
purposes. then they ought to be util-
ised for such purposes; II they are
moi. then they should be raxed and the
UnieA~ station .plaaa reatopsd to what
Congress and the Fine Aria Commits
sion really intended it to be-"