Evening star., 1923-09-19
Omnibus" Bill to Follow Rep
resentative LangIey's Con-
ference With Coolidge.
URGENT NEED is CITED;
PRESIDENTS MIND OPEN
Government Paying $23, ,000,0
Yearly in Rentals-Confdent
of Relief Measure.

There will be introduced at the
next session of Congress an "omni-
bus" public buildings bill carrying an
appropriation of at least 100000. 900,
according to Representative John w.
Langley of Kentucky. chairman of
the House committee on public build
ings and grounds, following a con-
ference with President Coolidge at
the White House today.
In making this known Mr.. Langley
asserted that he has reason to feel
certain that some kind of a general
building bill will be passed. He ex-
planned, further, that 1t may be pos
sibie that his committee, in prepar-
ing this legislation. will draw up a
bill providing for a total appropria-
tion of s5o,oO0,000 a year for ten
years, instead of a total of 500, ,o0O,-
600 for a period Of one or two years
as was contemplated recently.
Buildings. Great Need.
There is an urgent need for public
buildings throughout the country.
Mr.. Langley contends. He said he
Is of the opinion that President
Coolidge has an open mind upon the
subject. Mr.. Langley is aware that
the majority of administration off,
cials are opposed to an omnibus pub
lie buildings bill and would have il
put aside for the present in favor of
bills for individual buildings The
proposed structures include one for
the State Department, the Depart
ment of Justice. an archives building.
the Mall south of Pennsylvania ave-
nue. and east of 18th street. and one
for the general accounting office of
the Treasury Department and the in
ternal revenue. to be located on
plaza property in the vicinity of the
Capitol.
Congress will not agree to bills for
individual buildings such as this. Mr..
Langley contends, and he has told
Mr.. Coolidge to that effect. Mr.. Lang
ley recalled the fact that President
Harding attempted to get through
bills for an archives building and
one or two of the others just men
toned at the last session of Congress,
but without success.
Inform New Members.
To better acquaint the membership
of Congress, especially the newly
elected members, with the figures and
facts concerning a general buildings
bill Chairman Langley is sending out
a circular letter. The outstanding
feature of this communication is the
fact that the federal government is
spending $23.000,000 a year in rentals
torI1
and also that there have been no
public buildings built for half a dozen
years and that many of the govern
ments activities not only in Wash
ington but elsewhere are housed in
buildings inadequate in size and in
many instances insanitary.
As an argument in favor Of this
legislation, Mr.. Langley explained
that the government could issue
bonds to the amount of $500. .O0O. 600
to care for the building program, and.
after paying interest on the same. II
could at least have $500, 900, 900 over
and above what is being spent an
nually in rentals.
Clark Also Present.
Representative Frank Clark of
Florida, ranking democrat on Mr..
Langley's committee, accompanied
him to the White House, and made
it plain that he was in entire accord
with the chafrGan's views.
Before leaving the White House
Mr.. Langley presented to the Presi-
dent Mrs. Langley. who is vice presi-
dent OF the republican state commit
tee of Kentucky, and NJ. s. Crane of
Jackson, KY. who was one of the
original Harding men of that state.
John Aiken, chairman of the board
of directors of the National Shawmut
Bank of Boston. Mass, told the Pres
ident today that the bankers, not
only of New England, but those
whom he has met from other sec
tions. are greatly impressed with his
administration and have expressed
leading the party in 1924.
Labor conditions generally and
those affecting directly the railway
employees were discussed today dur
ing a conference between the Presi-
dent and a committee of the Brother
hood of Railway and Steamship
Clerks, composed of H. Fitzgerald,
president; George L. Levy, secretary
and treasurer, and E. c. Milan, vice
president. They assured the Presi-
dent that they were ready to give
him their support.
Representative Mayhew Wainwright
of Rye, N. Y. former assistant sec
retary of war, called on President
Coolidge today to pay his respects
and to tell him briefly of his obser-
VaJlOnS d dTOunQ Ino
world he has just completed.
Others who saw the President today
were Mrs. Harriet Taylor Upton,
vice chairman of the executive COM
mittee of the republican national COM
mittee; Maj. Stanley Washburn and
Charles L. Pack and Representative
M. L. Davey of Ohio. and former Rep
resentative P. H. Kelly of Michigan.
The President late this afternoon will
meet with the members of the United
States Tariff Commission on a num-
Der of matters pertaining to petitions
for rate changes.