Evening star., 1925-09-08
Will Agree to Countrywide
Measure to Assure D. C.
Program.
POLICY Is HELD IN LINE
WITH RIGID ECONOMY
President Sees $25, 5000 Rental
Saved, Efficiency and Safety
Improved.
BY j. RUSSELL YOUNG.
STAFF Correspondent of The Star.

SUMMER w II | T L Fl o U 5 r,
SWAMPSCOTT. Mass, September s.
So great is President Coolidges de-
sire to get through his public build
ings bill for the District of Columbia
at the coming session of Congress
that he will agree to some form of
general public buildings bill
In making this known at White
Court today a spokesman for the
President said that the latter has
about come to the conclusion that ii
would be difficult TO get a building
Dill, exclusively for Washington,
through Congress because of the gen.
eral feeling among members of Con
gress that it is high time that there
should be a general public buildings
bill and that If buildings are to be
built in Washington there should be
ones built III other sections where
they are greatly needed.
In agreeing TO a general building
bill the President is not letting up
any in his economy program. II
was explained by the Presidents s
spokesman that If IL is possible TO
get through Congress a general build
ings bill void of any pork barrel ear
marks he Will agree to including the
provision for the buildings immediate
ly needed in the Capital. The bill
that passed the House last year, au-
thoriZing the expenditure of S150,000,-
600 and giving the Secretary of the
Treasury authority to pick the sites
throughout the country and to spend
the money meets with the Presidents
approval. 1t was intimated TODAY
that President Coolidge would have
signed that bill had it finally been
passed.
Thinks Move Economical.
AS for the economy feature, the
President is represented as feeling
that a public buildings bill of this ma
ture would fit perfectly into his policy
for governmental economy.
The President has been shown that
the Federal Government today is pay
ing something in the neighborhood of
$25, ,000.000 annually in the rental of
buildings throughout the United
States, and that If the Government
owned more of these buildings instead
of renting them there would follow
considerable of a saving.
The President was represented to-
day while discussing this phase of the
question as being of the opinion that
the Government would be making
wise and profitable investment If II
expended 500 600, 900 or $50, ,00O, 900
upon buildings within the next year or
so for Government activities in those
sections of the country where new and
more adequate quarters are most
needed.
The President is we'll aware that
there has not been a general public
buildings bill since 1914, and that dur
ing those IL years the business of the
Government has grown enormously
and that certain agencies of the Gov
ernment in Washington and outside
are working under great physical diff
f1culties. Besides the reduced efficiency
and the constant danger to the per
sonnel because of the ffimsy, anti
quated and cramped buildings they
are forced to work in now, the Presi.
dent is impressed with the ever-pres-
ent possibility of losing valuable Gov
ernment records and archives by fire
or other hazards.
Less Waste in Rentals.
1t is understood that the President,
after giving the matter of rented
Government property a careful study,
is now convinced that there has been
a great waste of public money from
this one source alone, and that If he
is to be consistent in his advocacy of
governmental economy, he should see
to 1t that this leak is stopped.
1t was therefore made plain today
when the President was discussing
public buildings bill with newspaper
men at White Court that there are
several very good reasons for agree
ing to a general bill in order to get
through the administration program
for the District of Columbia.
Ever since Mr.. Coolidge has been
y, ia hn at
tempting to get through a bill author
iZing a public buildings program for
the National Capital. This provides
for the authorization of S10,000,000 an
nually for five years. 1t is the ad-
ministration's intention first to pro-
vide buildings of a handsome and per
manent nature, buildings that will
compare favorably in architecture and
construction with public structures
in the capitals of Europe. Sites al
ready have been selected for a series
of these buildings in suitable places
in the Mall south of Pennsylvania
avenue and east of Fifteenth street.
Just what departments of the Gov
ernment will be taken care of by
this authorization has not been def
nitely determined, but ii is thought
likely that the Department of JUS
tice, State Department. Bureau OF
partment of Agriculture and an
Archives Building and Department
of Commerce will be among the
buildings to be constructed with this
appropriation. There has been talk
of building an Archives Building upon
the Piazza not far distant from the
Capitol This, however, will be de-
terrnined when the money is au-
thorized.
VIII Confer With Leaders.
1t was stated today that the Presi-
dent will confer with leaders of the
! Senate and House long before the
meeting of Congress. when he will
go thoroughly into the subject of a
public buildings bill. 1t is thought
that the President, by agreeing to a
general bill, will not only obtain posi-
tive assurance of the 500, ,000, 900 he
wants for Washington. but will obtain
consent to giving this legislation a "a.
yorable position on the final legisla-
tive program for the coming session.
At White Court this Summer Presi-
| dent Coolidge has received the views
- Ca ya.