The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-01-17
kENOSHA ONE
OF TEN CITIES
In Wisconsin Needing New
Postoffice Building,
Says Report.
CAPITOL MUST WAIT

Washington, D. c. Members of
the house of representatives today
were determined that additional build
| ings for departments in Washington
would not be constructed unless needs
of the rest of the country were cared
for at the same time. Ten Wisconsin
cities are in the list as needing build
iings just as badly as Washington does
1.-THE cases of Racine and Kenosha have
already been discussed upon the floor
of the house at the present session
Representative Langley, Kentucky,
chairman of the house committee on
public buildings and grounds, declar-
ing that the need of these two Wiscon-
sin cities are as great as the need for
department buildings in Washington.
The treasury and postoffice depart
ment jointly recently announced that
there are ten cities in Wisconsin in
dire need of additional postoffice IA
cilities, and recommended expenditures
for them as follows"
Kenosha at 100000.
Appleton, $150,0O0; Beloit, $149O00;
GAINESVILLE, $125,000; Kenosha, $780,
900; Oshkosh, $3500O0; Manitowoc,
$155, 900; Racine, $15O,OO0; Sheboygan,
I$1OO,OO0; Stevens Point, $4,000; Wau-
sau, 100000
81 could name by the score places
in the country where needs are as great
or greater than in Washington" Lang
ley said. 81 concede that there is
some force in the argument that this
being the seat of government, where
Al L., sc oTfo N aTn
housed, and where the work of the gov
eminent is done for all the people,
should have the first and highest con-
sideration. Take the department of
agriculture, for example, its various
branches occupy here in Washington
As buildings scattered throughout the
city, % of which are rented, and many
of them unsanitary and non-freproof.
/ do not believe that the people in any
section of this country or that any
member of this house would want to
see preference given to his locality In
the face of such conditions in the ma
tional capital. 1t is beautiful city
and capable of much more beautifica-
ton, in which we should all take
patriotic pride. But contend that it
is not necessary to give such prefer
ence. 1t can all be undertaken as one
general public building plan, and l
think we ought to take pot luck to-
gether.
Only Necessary Buildings.
There may have been a time many
years ago when somebody thought that
he could glorify himself by building
monumental and unnecessary building
in his locality. But under the present
almost unbearable burden of taxation
and in the present state of the public
mind it is my opinion that any mem
Der Of congress who would undertake
to exalt himself personally by securing
the erection of an unnecessary build
4 ing in his community would bring
down upon himself public execration
and put himself into political exile.
So far as / am concerned, l believe
1--we ought to confne this general pro-
gram of building to actual necessities.
! l would not advocate, nor would l fav-
or reporting an omnibus bill which
provides for a single building any
/ where where it is not clearly shown
that the expenditure would immediate
Ily, or in the near future, be an eco
nomcal investment for the govern
ment What we need is not monu-
mental buildings, but buildings in
keeping with the architecture Of the
locality in which they are constructed,
and of a substantial, roomy, fireproof,
and sanitary type, such as successful
and up-to-date commercial business
would construct. 1t seems to me that
1 it is the thought of some gentlemen
that the adoption of comprehensive
building program would mean the i'm
mediate expenditure of hundreds of
millions of dollars, which of course, is
absurd.
Cut Out Rental Sums.
Chairman Langley told the house
that the government is now spending
annually nearly $23,000,000 in rental
Of buildings for government use. Many
of these buildings" he said, ''were un-
sanitary, non-freproof and lacking in
facilities" "Not only that" he said,
''but in many instances that have been
brought to my attention rental of as
much as 16 per cent annually is being
paid or the amount of capital invest
ed in the buildings" Langley contin-
ued. "This is objectionable and dis
graceful TO our government. we coulu
borrow even as much as $500,000,000
and still make a substantial saving in
the item Of interest alone, to say
nothing of the advantage it would be
in the matter of the prompt and eff
cient transaction of the public bust
ness.
If I could have my way about it,
would favor the adoption for the en-
tire country of building program and
l would extend that program over
period of ten years, giving preference
to the cases Of greatest emergency,
with proper safeguards against favor
itism for certain localities as against
others. We could at the most expend !
annually the comparatively small |!
amount that would be required to car
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