Evening star., 1925-01-25
COMMITTEE URGES SI5O,OOO, 900
u. S. BUILDINGS BILL THIS SESSION
House to Get Report Tomorrow Pressing for Action
to Prerent Possible Great Fire Loss
in Government Structures
Continued from First Page.)

Continued from First Page.)
ing job on a business basis strictly in
harmony with the budget system.
James A Wetmore, supervising archi-
tect of the Treasury, told the House
committee that probably not more then
three new buildings could be started in
Washington under this bill during the
coming year. These probably will be
modern f1reproof buildings for the Bu-
reau Of Internal Revenue, for getting
the general accounting Office under one
roof and an office building for the De-
partment of Agriculture.
May Close Some Streets.
The two former structures probably
would be placed on the seven squares
west Of Seventeenth street and north of
B street recently purchased by the
Government. AS one city block is not
large enough for either of these pro-
posed buildings. an amendment has been
approved by the House committee ou-
thorizing the closing of any street that
may be necessary to make possible the
erection of sufficiently large structures
to put either or both of these great es-
Cablishments under one roof. The new
office buildings for the Department of
Agriculture probably would be located
of B street.
The firehazard to workers and
records in some of the buildings oc-
cupied now by Government activities
are described as "unspeakable' by
those officials who have been con-
ferring with the House committee. 1t
is providential that the United States
Government has escaped the worst
scandal in its history on account of
the hourly risk to thousands of lives,
they say.
AS an illustration attention has been
directed to Tempo Building 5, occupy
ing the site, $50 feet square, at
Twenty-first and B streets. This
building is occupied by various units
of the Army, Shipping Board, Internal
Revenue and other Government ac
tivities. Another danger spot is
Treasury Annex, No. 2, also occupying
the entire site $50 feet SQUARE at
Fourteenth and streets. Here the
bulk of all the original income tax
returns, running into billions of dol
lars, are stored. which never could be
replaced There are at times some
1900 employees in this building. If a
fire started it might be impossible to
control it without loss of life, for it
is of the most f1imsy pasteboard ma
terial with no solid construction to
check the flames.
Buildings Overcrowded.
The crowded condition was the sec
ond important argument appealing to
the committee. Every foot of avail
able space In both permanent and
temporary buildings is occupied and
practically every Government agency
is sadly in need of more room. For
~ DaN L.
months behind in its work. Congress
has authorized the employment of
additional personnel to clean up this
congestion, but no place can be found
In which to do the work.
Then, too many activities are scat
tered all over the city m both pri-
vately owned and public buildings.
This makes administration exceed
ingly expensive, slows up the work
and puts unreasonable difficulties in
the way of the public, who cannot
find what they are seeking in one
building. For example, the Depart
ment of Agriculture Is occupying AZ
buildings, a majority of which are
rented.
1t should be emphasized that the
Federal Government is a tenant In
the National Capital to the extent
most, of these buildings are poorly
adapted to governmental uses.
Foresees se5o.ooo Saving.
The Controller Generals Office,
established four years ago by the
consolidation of all the auditors Of
fees for different departments. with
the intention of giving the Controller
General unified control over audits
{e-
tered that he testifies he can save at
least $3.50, 600 a year in administration
alone if he is given suitable build
ing.
The Internal Revenue Bureau has
gone on record as being able to make
an even greater saving. But the point
that is most important about the In
ternal Revenue Bureau is. that If these
original records are destroyed the
Government would never be able to
collect billions of dollars in taxes.
The point has been stressed also
that many of the buildings now in
use are rapidly deteriorating, even to
such an extent that the cost of keep
ing them In repair is prohibitive. Be-
cause of their filmsy construction
they are uncomfortable as workshops
cold in Winter and hot in Summer
and with improper ventilation all the
year round.
Assfgnment of Space.
The Public Buildings Commission
composed of the chairman and rank
ing Democrat on the Senate and
House committees on public buildings
and grounds; the architect of the
CAPITOL, the engineer officer in charge
of public buildings and grounds and
the supervising architect OF the
Treasury-has the responsibility for
assignment of space in all buildings.
The idea is prevalent in Congress
that this commission Is best qualified
to determine the type of interior con-
struction, especially with respect to
distribution and size of rooms and To-
cation of buildings to most advan-
tageously meet administrative re-
quirements.
If the Elliott bill passes, as now
seems probable, the Public Building
Commissions views would undoubted-
" be given due weight by the Treas
ury Department in such matters be-
cause a representative of the Treas
ury is a member of this commission.
In all discussions and reports the
Public Buildings Commission has ex-
pressed the desire. which is IN close