The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-07-30
OFFICE ROOM
IS SCARCE
IN CAPITOL
New Buildings Must BE
Erected Soon to Relieve
Conditions
BY CHARLES +. STEWART
NEA Service Writer

Washington-The State Depart
ment is crowding the War Depart.
ment literally out of house and
home.
It crowded the Navy Department
out some time ago.
The three departments used to
live together in perfect harmony
in what's still known as the State.
War all three departments, espe-
a whole city block square, one of
the bulkiest structures in Washing
ton.
There was plenty of room for
everybody in those days, but when
the country went into the World
War all three departments, espe-
cially the war and navy, expanded
so fast that they fairly overlooked
into the street inside week.
The government slapped up two
new edifices Of what was referred
to as the sem-permanent" type in
Potomac Park--the Navy Depart
ment and Munitions Buildings they
we're named-to take care of this
overflow.
The work was done in hot haste
but by the time it was finished the
Navy Departments overflow includ-
ed the entire outfit. 1t moved bod
lily, secretary and all. down to Po-
tomac Park
The War Department managed to
hang onto the secretary's. the gen
eral staff's and the adjutant, in
spector and judge advocate gener-
ais old quarters. All it's other Of
fees were transferred to the Mu-
nitions Building or scattered around
town.
The return of peace brought some
shrinkage in the army and navy lie
I rartm"nt personnels. but by this
ing proportions at such rate that
the navy folk never did get back
| into the old building. nor any of the
army crowd who had moved out.
And today the State DEPARTING mt
is clamoring for the space occupied
even by those who remain. They'll
hav" to go, too--to the Munitions
Building, or, if that won't hold them
all, into rented offices, wherever
they're to be found. The State De-
nartnlent's senior and entitled to
dictate.
Then the State. War and Navy
Building will be just the State Build
,, in". The foreign office would be a
better name.
To say "a state department" would
be all right, but "the state depart
ment" either means nothing at all
or else it means the whole govern
ment. All the Washington depart
ments are departments of state--of
government.
The so-called State Department
is the department Of state for for
eign affairs. The Interior Depart
ment is the department of state for
internal affairs. And so on.
Such designations as the Treasury
Department. the Commerce Depart.
ment and all the rest are appropriate
enough. They fit. The State De-
partment's is a misnomnr. How
ever. it isn't likely to be changed.
The State Department has grown
with the development of Americas
foreign interests. We may think
we're pursuing "policy of isola-
ton" but the fact that our depart
mint of foreign affairs is so cramped
for room in a building which for
merry accommodated it comfortably.
with the War and Navy Departments
thrown in. doesn't look much that
way.
We simply couldn't help it. that's
all. Enough international "situa-
tions" have been forced on US by
and since the war to have swamped
Tho old State nona rim ont hovopd
the power Of ever bailing itself out.
The State Department isn't the
only ministry which hardly knows
where to park itself. The Munitions
and Navy Department Buildings are
big enough, but, as previously re-
marked, they were built to only
semi-last.
Besides, they've no business in Po-
tomac Park and there's pressing