Evening star., 1925-12-27
The Governments Housing Needs.

Representative Madden. chairman
Of the House committee on appropria-
tions. expresses the belief that the
public buildings bill. which has the ap-
proval Of President Coolidge, and will
call for an appropriation of SlI5.O0O,-
900. OF which 10000, 900 will be for
constructions in Wa shineton. will be
brought up In the House before ali
Of the departmental appropriation
bills have been passed. This is en-
coura sing to those who realize the
urgent need of prompt relief for the
dapartme orga niZation. Chairman
Madden. noting that practically every
member OF Congress is convinced of
this nece ssity for better housing IA
cilities for the Government looks for
no opposition to the measure. espe-
cially as IT provides for constructions
outside Of as we'll as in the District.
This is such an old story that to
some ears it may he tiresone. But to
those who are responsible for the
proper transaction of public business
the tale is one OF deepest interest,
however often repeated. All those
who have daily dealings with the Gov
ernment know the vital need Of
wholesale rehousins Of the depart
ments and bureaus. Those who are
charged with the custody of invalu
a BILE papers, priceless records, docu-
ments upon which the greatest values
and interests depend know the risk
that is constantly incurred in their
custody in crowded places. sometimes
in f1imsy makeshift buildings.
The memory of man in Washington
ernment was fully and adequately
auartered. There has always been,
especially since the Civil War.
crampnG, dangerous congestion in
the department and bureau homes at
the Capital. Within the past forty
wears the Government has erected
only one complete department build
ing, that for the Interior Department
II has built two wings of the projected
home OF the Department Of Agricul-
ture, and II has occupied for depart
mental headquarters "a building de-
igned and constructed as a city post
Office. II has built A new home for the
Bureau of Engraving and Printing to
replace an old one, and new Gov.
ernment Printing Office to supplement
rather than entirely replace danger.
Gus shell. During that period three
new departments have been created
Agriculture, Commerce and Labor.
OF these three the two last named
have never had homes of their own.
while the first named is scattered
widely beyond the old and new main
buildings. The Departments of State,
War. Navy and Treasury are still
housed" in the buildings designated
for their use long a 90. but all Of them
have expa nded heyond the walls of
those two structures. The Depa rt-
ment Of Justice has never had z Gov
ernment built home of its own. and
after a l>rg period Of occupancy of
an inadequate Government "A cguired
building, 1t is now tenant in pri.
NatelN owned quarters At an increased
rental. The Interior Department
alone is housed sufficiently and com
pletely in its own building, save for
the Pension Office. which is about to
be transferred to that structure.
Thus stands tho record Of Govern
ment equipment Al the Capital for
half century. record wholly at
varia nee with the husinesslke spirit
pervadinE all lines of private enter
prize in this country. The cost to the
Government OF Inadequate housing in
rented quarters during that time
mounts into vast sum, undoubtedly
greater than the estimated expense Of
the program now contemplated in the
pending bill.