Evening star., 1922-11-28
ALL u. S. OFFICES IN
OWN BUILDINGS, AIM
Continued from First Pase.)

the business was being conducted un-
der tents In the streets without any
adequate protection from inclement
weather: that in many instances. par
ticularly In the larger cities. the de-
partment was losing at least 40 per
cent of the efficiency Of its force by
reason Of the insanitary and crowded
conditions of the space occupied by the
employees. and that their movements IN
the rooms occupied were handicaped
by this crowded condition. including
sacks Of mail and parcel-post packages
in the same room.
"He further stated to me that he is
opposed to the proposition which the
joint postal commission has been urg-
ing. to enter into contracts with private
concerns to construct suitable build
ings in the large cities. paying the con-
tractors an agreed annual rental Of 10
per cent. which would reimburse the
parties of the second part in given
period Of time. at the end OF which
period the buildings would revert to
would ply them q fixed amount for the
building as provided in the contract for
construction.
He cited one instance in which the
total cost to the government under
this method, including the option
given ny kHc luz knC pub
chase Of the building when the cost
Of it had been reimbursed. would be
in the neighborhood of $30,0oo.0eo.
while the same site and the same
building could be purchased and con-
structed by the government for about
$4,000 and that the government
could borrow the money at less than
one-haif the rate OF interest which it
was proposed to pay the private con-
tractors.
Il am very positively Of the opinion
that it is our imperative duty to pro-
coed to prepare and report an omni-
bus public buildings bill to the
and that this bill could take care Of
all sections of the country where the
business of the government-postal
or otherwise-is of sufficient volume
to warrant the construction OF q
building.
For BuildlaEs Program.
"I am also Of the opinion that We
should proceed as rapidly as is prac-
ticable to adopt and carry out q gen
eral public buildings program. both
in and out Of the District Of Colum-
bia. which will ultimately. and as
soon a. the revenues Of the govern
ment will permit. house all federal
functions in government-owned build
inss. thus dispensing with the rental
of buildings. which Is oftentimes ex-
orbitant. many of which are non
freproof, notwithstanding the fact
that they contain records that are in
valuable to the government In pur-
suancs OF that policy. I think we
rsa.tHI a,HnrooS ho1l ~ rHcorAs ~
archives building. in which these pa
pers shall be deposited, and also a
Treasury vault which will afford alb
solute protection for the enormous
amount Of cash and negotiable Sc
curities now In the possession of that
Il am not in favor Of the construc-
tion Of colossal. monumental or orna-
mental public buildings anywhere.
think. on the contrary. that they
should be OF a plain. substantial type
such as are constructed for the use
there should be a Standardization Of
those buildings. 80 as to eliminate as
much as possible the duplication Of
work in preparing plans and specif-
and that our bill should con-
tain = provision for ample facilities
therein authorized, SO that the build
ings now needed may be promptly
constructed by the government. which
ought to do the work In approxi-
mateiy the same length of time as it
can be done by private parties.
Il am addressing this letter to each
Of the committee instead of
calling meeting. which could not at
this particular time bring the entire
Of the committee to-
gether. az It IS most desirable that
each member Of the committee be
consulted as to whether he thinks
there should be at the coming regular
session of Congress an omnibus bill
reported to the House. Kindly advise
me OF your views on the question az
early as practicable. If . majority Of
the committee is in favor of such
action shall then address a letter to
the membership Of the House explain.
ing the purpose of the committee and
suggesting that each member ictro-
luce a bill-if he has not already
done so-covering any proposition
hat he desires the committee to con-
sider: that he will at once proceed to
rather from departmental and other
sources all available informa ton that
he committee will need. and right
after the holidays proceed with such
,Ao rinos q nav hd uAcaqSarv"