Evening star., 1925-01-23
Priceless Records Stored in
FiretrapS Prove Need,
Committee Told.
WOULD REBUILD ENTIRE
SOUTH SIDE OF AVENUE
Miller Declares Property Should Be
Condemned and Model Work
shops for Government Erected.

Ihe crying need for expenditure OF
$50,000,000 within the next ten years
on the erection of Federal buildings
in the National Capital to house the
enlarging agencies of the Govern
ment and safeguard the millions of
dollars worth Of valuable documents
now stored in "hretraps," was further
emphasized at the hearing before the
House committee on public buildings
and grounds today
Objections that the District might
get an undue share of the total fund
OF Sl50,OOO,000 asked in the bill, while
the rest of the country was left TO
suffer through inadequate quarters
especially for the postal service, and
suggestions to write into the bill
limitations upon the amount that
should be expended in the District
met with vigorous opposition.
Representative Magee of New York.
member of the subcommittee on the
treasury of the appropriations COM
mlttee, emphasized the need for Ger
tain public buildings in the National
Capital, especially for the Bureau of
Internal Revenue. where, he said, the
lives Of the employees are constantly
d.
the belief that if a fire started they
would not have time to get out of IN.
building alive.
Would Rebuild on Avenue
Chairman Elliott said that the res
of the country is represented on thc
appropriations committee by 35 men
while the District of Columbia has
no representative, so that il seemed
as il the rest of the country ought
to be able to look after its own in
terests when each item for a new
building comes up for consideration.
During debate on the bill Repre-
sentative Miller Of Illinois declared
that If he had his way he would con-
denim all property along the south
side of Pennsylvania avenue and build
utility workshops for the Govern
ment instead of monumental struc-
lures
Repre- Magee told the COM
mittee bluntly that this bill can be
put through at this session of Con-
gress, which will make a splendid
start on cleaning up the public build
ings needs of the country. He warn
ed the committee that no other build
ing bill than the one now before the
committee, which carries the indorse-
ment OF the Treasury, and which is
not inconsistent with the financial
policy and program Of the President.
can be passed at this session.
Approves New Bill.
Representative Magee explained to
the committee that this new style of a
public buildings bill is a logical out
growth of the budget system. 1t brings
public buildings within the provision of
the budget system. The appropriations
committee requires full details, and will
hold hearings on each item. 1t merely
gives to the Secretary of the Treasury,
who has custody of public buildings, the
right to make recommendation on what
building projects he believes are most
necessary for the Government to do
business efficiently. The primary object
is to get efficiency in the public service.
The Post Office Department now has not
proper facilities for efficient service. he
said.
He expressed the opinion that there
will be no material objection in the
House to this bill and that IL this bill
does not pass there will be no public
buildings erected for another four
years.
In the Bureau of Internal Revenue
Building at Fifteenth and B streets,
the thousands of employees would not
have time to jump out of the win
dows, and documents, including hun
dreds of millions of dollars worth
of records, would be burned up with
in 10 minutes, If a. fire started, Repre-
sentative Magee said.
Elliott Sponsors Bill.
When Representative Busby asked
If this bill was not a cloak to get a
general public buildings bill through
with the $5O,000,000 which President
Coolidge advocated for the District Of
Columbia when 1t seemed as IL a
general public buildings bill could not
be passed Representative Elliott, au-
| thor of the bill, hastily replied that
it had been introduced on his own
initiative, and not on the suggestion
of any Government official.
Representative Magee replied that
the buildings needs of the Govern
ment in the District of Columbia
should be provided for the protection
of records of the Government and for
efficiency Of service. He called at
| tention to the fact that the Under
secretary of the Treasury in his tes-
| timonX yesterday had said that only
| 81, 900, 600 for 10 years would be used
in the District.
Bill Backed by New.
Chairman Elliott read a letter from
| the Postmaster General in which he
recorded his entire approval of the
! bill, saying that in his opinion il
embodies the best suggestion for
| public buildings legislation that has
| been made for some time. The Post
master General had suggested to the
director of the budget that the build
| ing program in the District should be
separated from the general public
| building program. He also suggested
that in view of the fact that most of
| the money would be spent throughout
| the country on post office buildings
the Postmaster General should have
concurrent authority with the Secretary
OF the Treasury.
| When Representative Almon of Ala
bana suggested that a Limitation on
| the amount to be spent in the District
out of the $150,O0O,O00 should be
made, Representative Magee said it
would be better to trust" the appro-
priations committee. 1t was at this
| point that Chairman Elliott called at
! tention that the District was without
representation.
Representative Miller of Illinois
, said that is one reason why it might
be we'll to fix the figure for the pro-
| lection of the National Capital