The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-09-19
L-ANS BIG
BUILDINGS
HERE
Langley viii Lay Bill Before
congressHas Conference
With Coolidge.

A great program OF Federal
building by which the District Of
Columbia establishments of the
general government would first
benefit will be laid before Com
gress at the forthcoming session,
unless Republican leaders frown
upon it, Congressman John w.
Langley of Kentucky, chairman
of the House Committee on Pub
lie Buildings and Grounds, re-
vealed after call upon Presi-
dent Coolidge today.
Millions Are Involved.
Langlye was accompanied by Con-
gresham Frank Clark. of Florida,
ranking Democratic member of the
committee. who concurs in the
great project.
If legislation is introduced for the
great structural development which
will make the Government free
from millions in annual rentals. it
will call for an annual expenditure
Iof $50, 100000 for ten successive
years. This half million dollars
would be provided by the issuance
OF bonds with an interest rate OF
IA or AZ per cent.
Langley believes that hte temper
tof Congress will be definitely
lagainst passage of bills providing
for separate DEVELOPMENTS in the
line of Federal building. He thinks
the only hope of starting much
NEEDED developments here and
Throughout the country lies in the
introduction 70 a carefully de-
signed plan that would lift the bur.
den OF rent-paying from the shout
Iders of the taxpayers for good
Archives Building First.
First and foremost, Langley
favors the immediate erection of an
archives building. Priceless govern
ment documents are daily imperilled
by such fires as thrice visited the
Treasury building last year.
A bill was introduced providing
form the erection of an archives
structure at the last session Of the
legislators, but was lost In the
shuttle. There has never been any
pretense that an archives building
was not sorely needed, but the mat
ter has not been strongly enough
pressed to bring it to a consumma-
ton.
The attempt will be made to line
up G.. o. P. regulars behind the
project in it's entirety in December,
and the archives building will be
given precedence.
Next, as regards construction in
the District, will come homes for
the Department of Justice, Depart
mentment Of Labor and the In
ternal Revenue Bureau. There will
also be provision for completion
ind extension of the Department
of Agriculture building, long a ira
vesty in stone, with it's two wings
uncoonnected by the big rotunda
provided in the original architects
plans.
Following attainment Of these de-
velopments, the field Of construc-
ton would be broadened to include
housing for city post offices, GUS
-oms offices, etc, nearly all Of
which are now on a rental basis and
many indifferently designed for the
work conducted in them.
Estimates Of Rentals.
1t is reckoned by Chairman Lang
ley and Mr.. Clark that the Govern
ment is now Smelling out $4,000. 900
year in rentals. The final COM
pletion Of the $685. 900 program
would result in an annual saving
of between $4,000, 900 and $4,000, 900,
they say. The bonds would be
long-term, and with provisions for
a sinking fund the expenditures
would hardly be felt.
The Administration has been rep
resented as favoring a relatively
small beginning in the matter of
getting the Federal Government
under it's own roofs.
It is said it would advocate ap-
preparations for an archives build
ing and two or more department
buildings at the next session of
Congress. Mr.. Langley frankly
told the President, it is said, that
1t would he most difficult to secure
. such legislation.
Chairman Langley has prepared
: and sent out to all members of the
lower house a circular letter, ex
planning his plan in detail. Wher
. the legislators reconvene they viii
have the data pat, and if the bill IL
introduced, as II seems certain j
t Will be, they will be in a position
intelligently to listen to argument
] pro and con.