Evening star., 1922-10-12
ASKS S100,o0,0DD
FOR NEW BUILDINGS
Representative Langley De-
elares U. S. viii Save Money
+ Spent for Rentals.
POSTMASTER AIDS PLAN
Measure Will Be Pushed at the
= Next Session of
K. Congress. -

Z
There is now being prepared gem
eral public buildings bill. which VIII
he reported to Congress prompt!
when it reassembles which VIII au-
rhorize the erection of public build
ihgs. mostly post offices. all over 'he
country, costing upward of 100000
Gso.
Representative John W. Langley OF
Kentucky. chairman of the House
committee on public buildings and
grounds, made this announcement
after conference with Presiden:
harding and after having been IN
session with Postmaster General
Work for nearly two hours.
This is the first general pubic
buildings bin in ten years and Is
made necessary, Chairman l-anS.eE
and Postmaster General Work say
by the deplorable and entirely made
quate condition of the postal facfi-
ties all over the country. The new
prohibition enforcement work, Chair
man Langley points out. has increas.
ed the demand for space i'll federal
buildings in every city and town
throughout the country.
$10O,OO0.O 900 Needed.
views between the Postmaster Cen
eral and Chairman Langley as to de-
tails, there was 40 difference of
opinion as to the necessity for prompt
enactment of the public buildings
bill. The Postmaster General author
lied Mr. Langley to say that the de-
partment thought that less than
100000 900 would not be sufficient
to meet the situation.
Postmaster General Work suggest
ed that inaSmuch as commercial
buildings are going up in the air
rather than spreading over more
ground space, the same general policy
to erect higher buildings. obviatine
the expense of larger sites at ex-
cessive costs in the center of popu-
Ious cities. He said his plan is to add
one or two stories to existing
buildings to provide the additional
space necessary.
In answer TO this Representative
Langley said that this was agreea BILE
to him wherever the building already
constructed would support the addi-
tional weight. but that this was a
matter of architectural debate which
the Treasury Department and the
Post Office Department would have
10 work out.
Representative Langley reminded
the Postma ster General that a build
ing program confined to extension of
existing buildings and building al
ready authorized would have no more
chance of passing Congress than the
proverbial SNOWFALL.
Postal Service Handicapped.
Postmaster General Work said
that the Post Office Department
would support a public buildings pro-
gram which would draw the line so
that public building would be erect
ed in any city where a building en-
,ireiy adequate for the federal busi-
ness could not be rented with saw
Ing of public money.
Chairman Langley argued that having
postponed public building bill for ten
years Congress should now look ahead
and provide for the growth that is GER
tain to come. He said that his own
opinion is. and he believes it will be
the disposition of the committee and
Congress. to 30 beyond the restricted
lines Indicated by the Postmaster Gen.
eraL
In emphasizing the need for more
and larger federal buildings. Postmaster
General Work said that In many in
stances the postal service is now trans
acting business under tents in the
streets. with no protection from incle-
ment weather and frequently with ten
or twelve employees in one small room
crowded in with big piles Of parcel post
and second-class mail matter. He fig
per cent Of its efficiency, all of which.
Chairman Langley said. prevents the
employees from rendering their best
service. Congress will be guilty of
criminal negligence: Representative
legislation authorizing the construction
Of suitable buildings for the federal
business. which will not be ornate, but
suitable and sanitary.
1t will be recalled that Chairman
Langley in the closing hours of the re-
cent session of Congress severely criti-
cized the proposed plan OF contracting
with private parties for colossal build
ings in large cities. He described this
not only as an effort to sidestep Con-
sress and the jurisdiction Of the COM
mittees on public buildings. but that it
would also open the door to extensive
graft.
Work Approves Proposals.
In talking with the Postmaster
General. Chairman Langley said that
the proposition recommended by the
joint postal commission iE New York
city would have cost the government
on d 10 per cent interest basis on the
investment. $19.500,0o0 a year for
twenty years. In addition the gov
ernment would have to pay more
than a quarter Of a million dollars a
year in taxes, which would have
added more than $5.o00.000 additional
cost. making about s25.oo0.000. Then
at the end of that period the govern
ment would have the option to pur-
chase the building at about $6,000.0 900,
making q total cost of more than
$40, ,000, 900, or be left without a work
shop and at the mercy Of the owners
of the building.
Postmaster General Work. after ex-
planning his APPROVAL of Chairman
Langley'S remarks In the House,
said he had refused to approve the
recommendations OF the joint COM
mission and that the Post ONCE De-
partment had made an Investigation
on it's own account, which shows the
government can purchase the same
site for $2,000.000. and erect the
building 1t needs for $4,000 900, and
have to pay only per cent on the
entire $S,O00,000. instead of the 10
per cent proposed by the joint COM
mission.