Evening star., 1926-05-26

house for the Government, all of the
| buildings for the District under the
new law are to located south of Penn
| sylvania avenue and west Of Mary,
| land avenue. 1t Is specifically stated
| in the law that no new buildings are
| to be erected north Of PennsylVania
avenue. and. furthermore, that al
| office buildings in the future should.
| as nearly as is possible. harmonHe
| with the original LEsnfant plan.
Chairman Smoot was quite positive
| In saving the commission has made
| no decisions as to the buildings IL
will erect here. or which ones will be
| constructed first and second ana 50
| on. Ii is understood, however, that
during preliminary considerations OF
| the subject prior to the enactment OF
the new law the commission prepa rea
= tentative list including the follow
ing: An archives building. buildings
for the Department of Justice, De
partment Of Commerce. Department
of .abor and the Department or ASfi
culture buildings for ranches or the
Treas sury Department. ineiudlhs tne
internal revenue. general accounting
office and other bureaus under ms
department.
Warehouse May Be First.
It also is generally understood that
the commissions first move will be
to DISPOSE of some of the minor build
inys before reaching q decision as TO
the major ones. 1t Is thought that
the storage warehouse for tho Gov
ernment will be one of the first to be
started. The site for this has mol
been determined, but the aim or the
commission is TO locate 1t so as to
serve the most practical purpose and
to not interfere with the general
scheme of Identification to be fof'
lowed in carrying out the remainder
Of the project.
There Is some reason also to believe
that the first major build'n- TO pe
decided upon will be the one TO be
known as the Archives Building,
which will house the valuable docu-
ments and papers Of the National
Government.
1t is expected that this commission
will be advised by the heads OF the
departme nts regarding the planning
of the new department buildings. The
United States Fine Arts Commission
will act in an advisory capacity also.
The recommendations for the ap-
preparation for the buildings here
after they have been planned by the
commission are to finally be made by
the Secretary of the Treasury.
Postmaster General to Aid.
In carrying into effect the provi-
sions of the new act. in so far as
it relates to buildings outside the
District. the selection of sites and
he nj
construction will be done under the
personal supervision of the Secre-
tary of the Treasury. This officer,
however. will act jointly with the
Postma ster General in the selection
of towns and cities in which build
ings for the postal service are to
be erected as well as the selection
Of individual sites.
The plan under the new law is
for the Secretary of the Treasury
to submit annually. and from time to
time as may be required. estimates
to the Budget Bureau, showing, in
detail, the various amounts 1t Is
proposed to eXpend during the nscal
year for which estimates are sub
mitted The law directs the Secre-
tary of the Treasury. in submitting
these estimates. to allocate the
amounts proposed to be expended In
the different States, where build
essary, in such q manner as to dis
tribute the amounts to be expended
fairly on a. basis of area, population
and postal receipts. To doubly
make sure that the distribution Of
buildings Is to be as eQuable as IL
possible, Congress has stipulated In
the act that at least one building
shall be estimated annually for each
State having q post office with re-
ceipts Of more than $4,000 annual
ly during the last preceding year
for which no new public building has
been provided.
The program calls for q five-year
period. but it Is anticipated that It
will more nearly cover a six-year
period than flve years. 1t is specified
not more than $25 5000 is to be ex.
pended annually. OF this amount
$40. .0O0, 900 will be for buildings in
Washington and the remaining $15,-
000, 900 in other sections of the coun-
try
Will Build BeIated Structures.
1t will be the aim of the Secretary
of the Treasury in carrying out the
project to dispose of the buildings
previously authorized but not appro-
priated for as soon as possible. There
is to be spent Sit. .000. 900 for this pur-
pose, and of the amount to be expend-
ed upon buildings outside Of the Dis
trict at least so per cent is to be de-
voted to the erection of these previ.
ously authorized buildings. At this
rate these belated buildings will be
cleared up within three years.
This extensive building program
provides also for more than the erec-
ton Of new buildings. Under the
terms of the law the Secretary of the
Treasury is empowered to repair or
remodel buildings already being used