The Washington times., 1923-01-01

quarters for 1t are not included in
the proposed five new buildings, are
the conditions under which the De-
partment Of Agriculture functions.
At present. the Department of Agri-
culture is scattered through some
buildings located in vari-
GUS sections of the city. Officials
Of the department, while not COM
planning of present conditions, admit
that the work Of the department is
greatly retarded by this scattering
of its various divisions. 1t is con-
dition, it Is said which would not be
tolerated by any Of the larger indus.
trial organizations in connection
with their executive centers.
Efficient administration of the af-
fairs of the Department of Agricul-
ture is of too much importance to
the nation, 1t is declared, to permit
hampering through conditions which
can be corrected. It is the one divi-
sion of the Government of strictly
scientific character. Each year in
creases its value to the nation as a
whole. To the department may be
credited the superior position of the
American farmer over the agricu1-
Consolidation Desirable.
AS the prosperity Of the nation de.
Ponds on the prosperity of the farm
.er. It is said. 90 the prosperity of
the latter has come to depend in a
large measure on the assistance
given him by the Department of
Agriculture. Hence the importance
Of eventually consolidating the de-
partment with its various divisions
and bureaus in close proximity, thus
tnsuring its greater efficiency. AL
though the advisability of such &C.
ton is only suggested by the COM
mission in endorsing the erection of
the five new government buildings,
it is understood that the needs of the
Department of Agriculture will be
given consideration in the near
future.
Not within the past half-century
has building program of such a
comprehensive character been sub
mitted to Congress. If favorably
acted upon it will mean, it is said
that a long stride will be taken to-
ward unifying the work OF the gov
eminent. 1t Is conceded, however,
that extensive as the proposed build
ing plan is, it is little more than the
initial step to be taken in that direc-
ton. Besides the Department Of Agri-
culture. with its urgent need for
new and enlarged quarters, other
departments are experiencing the in
conveniences incident to lack OF
office space. This is the inevitable
result of the policy of the past it
is declared, which permitted depart
nlents to outgrow their quarters
without providing for the expansion.
Provides for Steel Stacks.
One Of the expedients the Gov.
eminent is forced to adopt to over
come the disadvantages resultant on
this policy is seen, it is said, in
the recommendation of the commits.
sion that 81 100000 be provided for
the erection of steel stacks in the
Pension Office to be used for filing
purposes until the Archives Build
ing is available. At present hun
dreds of thousands of documents
and valuable records of the de-
partment are stacked away where
they can be reached only through
an enormous amount of labor and
at a loss of much valuable time
What is true Of the Pension Bureau
is equally true of practically every
other bureau Of the Government.
Congress, it is expected, will act
on the commissions report i'm
mediately after the first Of the
year. In the interval, it Is under.
stood, the Importance of favorable
consideration being given 1t will be
impressed on various members, the
idea being to insure favorable action
by the largest possible majority II
Is pointed out that a $4,000, 900
yearly building program by the Gov
eminent is below that undertaken
by some of the smaller nations, and
Tar below that followed out by Eu-
rOpean countries