The Washington times., 1925-07-14
CONGRESS
WILL b:
ASKED
TOA('T
So, 100000 Government Of
flee Structure to Be Pro-
posed by Smoot

Next summer will witness de-
struction of all temporary govern
ment buildings in Washington,
with the exception of the navy
and munitions buildings, if plans
to be presented to Congress- this
winter are approved.
Temporary housing of all
bureaus and sections, now in the
temporary buildings, by rental Of
office space until permanent quart
ers can be constructed will be
asked of the public buildings COM
mission and Congress.
Treasury officials are thorough
" aroused to the urgent need for
removal of priceless records, now
housed in wooden firet-aps, to
safe quarters. Other bureaus
housed in the temporary structures
are clamoring for adequate and
safe offices.
Quarters Are Hot.
Members of the public buildings
commission, stirred by the plight
of unfortunate Government work
ers in the bake-ovens under the
wooden roofs of temporary Nah
buildings during the hot spells this
summer, are determined that these
conditions shall not prevail another
year If it is humanity possible to
prevent them, it 10 stated.
Congress will be told by Treasury
officials that destruction of records
of the internal Revenue Bureau
alone. now filed in the temporary
buildings at Fourteenth and B
streets northwest. would cost the
Government more than would an
adequate building program to house
all Governmental functions In the
District, according to estimates Of
Treasury Department investigators
Immediate construction OF
great $500, 900 office building. SIM
liar in type to the new Interior
Department building, vii be asked
of Congress early in December.
Sm0Ot Backs Bill.
Senator Smoot, of Utah, chair.
man of the Public Buildings Com
mission, is expected to introduce
and demand consideration of a Oil
authorizing the building. Funds
for construction of the proposed
building, to be Immediately avail
able, will be provided in the first
urgent deficiency appropriation
bill, it is planned, and it is hoped
that construction of the building
may be started early next spring.
The new building. which event
ualIy will house the Internal Rev.
enue Bureau exclusively, may be
called upon Immediately after its
completion for office space for BID.
reaus now in the temporary build
ings.
Abandonment of space in the
temporary buildings, by discharges
of employees under the new appro-
priation laws. which took effect
July /, will enable closing of one
or more of the buildings without
great congestion in any Govern
ment branch, it is stated. The
prohibition unit, which will be cut
down by discharge of about 400 en-
ployes August 1, will give UP four
corridors in the temporary build
ing on Seventh street, in the Mall.
in which it is now housed.
Navy to Have Building.
DeSIruct On OF the navy ana
munitions buildings. which are OF a
more permanent type of rconstruc-
ton, will be delayed until a per.
manent building program is pro-
vided by Congress.
The War Department eventually
will be moved back to the State,
War and Navy building, it is plan
ned. A new building will be erect
ed for the Navy Department, prob
ably on the north side of Lafayette
Square. The State Department is
to be housed in a separate building
on the west side of jackson place
northwest.