Evening star., 1923-04-22
LANGLEY TO PRESS
DRIVE FOR BUILDING
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institution the most magnificent of
its kind in the world.
II also think" he continued, that
1t would greatly add to the attrac-
tiveness and beauty or the Capitol
grounds to acquire the balance Of the
property west Of the wireless sta
tion down to the foot Of the hill and
the blocks directly south of Penn
sylvania avenue from Sd to 7th
streets. inclusive. This would not
only provide suitable sites for addi-
tional government buildings, but
would at the same time serve the
added purpose of removing an eye
sore to the otherwise attractive views
from Capitol HILL"
The whole problem of space in gov
ernment buildings in the District
which was reviewed at recent meet
ing of the Public Buildings Commits
sion. of which Representative Lang
ley Is member. has grown more and
more acute with the deterioration and
destruction of temporary structures
built during the war and the rising
rentals of certain buildings now
rented In the District.
Representative Langley in his en-
deavors to house government activi-
ties in Washington in government
owned buildings, however. does not
Gus drive to the District of Columbia
He contends with some spirit and g
display of the governments enormous
rental bill of $21, 100000 annually
that 1t would be economy to builC
throughout the nation federal struc-
lures to care for the greatly increased
public business. particularly in the
Post Office Department.
Pointing out that it had been ter
years since an omnibus public build
ings bill" was enacted, Representa-
tive Langley declares since tina,
time the government business as well
as private business has increased
enormously and the needs of the
postal service alone have practically
doubled during that period" The
government business in some cities
he AYERS, "is being transacted prac-
merous buildings have been leased
many OF them at abnormally high
rentals"
Takes Issue With Hoover.
Representative Langley disagreed
with Secretary of Commerce Hoover
and. in effect, with the Federel Re
serve Board. both Of which have
counseled delay in public buildings
until a later period of slack IN tbs
building boom, so as not to throw a
burden on the building trades al
present to the hindrance of the home
building campaign on throughout the
nation.
The construction being put up by
private builders to house government
activities at high rentals, according
to Representative Langley. serves the
double purpose of throwing building
into the market at this time anyhow
for the government. in spite OF the
~ 1Is
building, and of also providing pri-
vate interests with an opportunity tc
profit at government expense.
Such private interests, he charges
have been receiving high rentals
more expensive to the government
than borrowing money with which tC
build. when we consider the low
rate of interest at which the govern
ment can borrow money" he said
less than one-fourth of what private
contractors are getting from the gov
eminent for rentals-it would be
readily seen that this situation could
be handled upon borrowed capital
and $500 100000 or $60o.00o.0o0 ex'
panded on such program. and Still
we would be making large saving IL
the item of interest alone"
Mr.. Langley calls attention 20
change IN the act of 1SSJ concern
ing leases. accomplished by the pos
office appropriations act o. l92o
which he charges enlarged tht
scope of the previous statute and
also extended the authority to lease
for twenty years. Ny understanding
is that the purpose Of these changes
in the law was to make these rental
bids more attractive to the bidder
The location and specific provi-
sions for public buildings, which Mr.
Langley charges has been slipping
into the hands of the executive de-
partment, should. he thinks be left
; in the hands of Congress, as sucl
work sis purely Legislative func
ton"
Langley, the sentiment of Congress
is Overwhelmingly in favor of th'
speedy enactment OF a broad ant
| liberal public building policy for TIL
entire country