Evening star., 1924-05-01
CITES VITAL NEED
FOR u. S. BUILDINGS
Fernald Pleads Cause of $50, ,000,.
900 Construction Program
Here at 0Ece.
MORE WORKERS COMING
Says Bonus Bill Will Add 1000
to Pay Rolls Here.

With 1000 additional government
employees necessary in Washington for
the administration of the soldiers
bonus law, the enactment of legisla-
tion authorizing a comprehensive
building program by the government
in the District of Columbia has be-
come vitality necessary, Senator Fer
nald of Maine, chairman of the com
mittee on public buildings and
grounds, said today.
THE bill authorizing the expendi-
ture of s50, 900 for the erection
of public buildings in the District,
which was ordered favorably report
ed by the committee on public build
1ngs and grounds yesterday, should
be put through at the present session
of Congress-" said Senator Fernald.
He said that he was hopeful of get
ting favorable action on it before
adjournment.
Asked by President.
President Coolidge, he pointed out,
recommended such legislation to Con-
gress in his annual message last
December. Senator Fernald said that
he believed the budget bureau also
would approve. 1t is planned, he
said, to expend about s10,00o,0 goo
year for the construction of buildings
here during the next five years.
"As a matter of business" said
Senator Fernald, "it is of great in
terest TO the government to begin
this building program in Washington
without further delay The govern
ment pays about ST00, 1000 a year rent
for buildings in the District now.
unless new buildings are erected this
rental bill will increase
The employees who will be neeedd
here fer the administration of the
soldier bonus will number from 1000
To 2,2O0, l am told. 1t is estimated
that they will require about 95 900
square feet of foor space. 1 do not
know where they are to be housed
The government has not space in its
buildings and it will be difficult to
rent quarters for them.
Like Dol. Kennels.
I'VE have government employees
here today working in quarters that
are little better than dog kennels
Something should be done without
delay to relieve these conditions,
THE development of Washington
along artistic and beautiful lines
should be carefully guarded in the
ernment buildings. However, ade-
quate buildings, considerably less or
nate than those demanded in the past
can well be erected to house the
working forces of the government
here"
Senator Fernald also expressed the
hope that the Congress would at this
session enact legislation providing for
the construction of the proposed me-
mortal bridge across the Potomac
a ipip ~ Of
coin Memorial to Arlington.
Senator Fernald is, writing q report
on the public buildings bill for the
District, which probably will be SUBJ
mitted Saturday or Monday.
Bill Ordered Reported.
The bill authorizing the expendi-
ture of $4,000, 900 for the erection of
public buildings in the District of
Columbia was ordered favorably re-
ported to the Senate yesterday by the
Senate committee on public buildings
and grounds.
The bill provides that not more
than $10,0e0,000 shall be expended in
any one fiscal year. It provides also
that the public buildings commission
shall make a thorough study of the
situation and determine how the
money is to be expended
The bill carries out the recon-
mendations made by President Cool
idge to Congress in his annual ad-
dress last December. The bill was
drafted by the public buildings COM
mission, of which Senator Smoot of
Utah is chairman.
The bill will be reported to the Sem
ate within the next few days, according
to Senator Fernald of Maine, chairman
of the committee on public buildings and
grounds, and placed on the Senate
calendar.