Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-07


characterized as a general parceling
out of favors that usually bears a
name lacking in good repute. 1 am
willing to approve an act similar in
character TO that which has already
passed the House, providing lump
sum appropriation to be expended I'M
der the direction of the Treasury, or
any other proper authority. over a
term Of years, with such annual ap-
preparations as the national finances
could provide"
Bill Died in Senate.
Chairman Elliott reviewed within
the last Congress nearly 800 bills be-
fore the committee asking for appro-
and 1926. 900. 900 outside of the Dis.
trict of Columbia. Practically the same
measure that is now before the com
mittee passed the House in the last
Congress with more than two-thrds
ma ority and was favorably reported
to the Senate, but died on the Senate
calendar.
In the present Congress. already 1856
bills have been presented. calling for
appropriations Of about $3.50. 900 900,
which includes $50 900 900 for the Dis
trict of Columbia.
Mr. Elliott also put into the record
a Senate document from the last Con
gress listing public buildings projects
which the present bill proposes shall
be completed at a cost not to exceed
SIS 900 900. He explained that on this
list % projects have been finished, 80
are under contract, leaving about 65
not completed. 1t is estimated that
the actual cost of completing these
projects will be $13 800, 900.
Mr.. Elliott brought out the fact
that there has been no public build
ing bill enacted since March 4. 1913.
He called attention to the report
made by former Postmaster General
Work. carrying list of places all
over the country where more adequate
quarters are necessary. This list COW
ers about 40 principal cities in the
United States.
Needs Are Cited.
Another report made on February
s, 1928, jointly by DR.. Work as Post
master General and Secretary Mellon
Of the Treasury Department gave a
list of 10 cities where the Govern
ment owned buildings are entirely in
adequate and where new buildings are
most urgently needed.
He also put into the record the re-
port made last month by the public
buildings commission of the need for
public buildings in the District of
Columbia, which especially emphasizes
the fire hazard.
A series of articles and editorials
from The Star telling in detail the
housing needs of certain Government
agencies which are in most desperate
circumstances, in order efficiently to
carry on their work. to protect price
less records and to safeguard the lives
of thousands of employees, was put in
the record by Mr.. Elliott as a careful
summary of the actual conditions as
found by extensive investigation made
during the Summer.
Representative Woodrum. Demo
crat, Of Virginia, said: Every mem
Der Of the House and Senate ought
to be ashamed that great departments
of our Government are just lying
around in temporary buildings, with
most valuable records and human
lives endangered
Quotes Conditions Elsewhere.
Mr.. Woodrum said he feared that
the chairman, Jealous in the inter
ests Of the District" might have given
the impression that the committee and
Congress were not awake to the urgent
needs for permanent buildings else
where throughout the country. Mr..
Woodrum said that he was heartily in
support of adequate housing for the
Government in the National Capital,
but that he also wanted Federal &C.
tivities decently housed in communi-
ties everywhere throughout the United
States. AS an illustration he quoted
conditions at Roanoke, Va.
Representative Almon, Democrat. of
Alabama, sought to broaden the hear
ings sufficiently to allow witnesses
from any community throughout the
country to testify regarding local
needs. Representative Fritz Lanham.
ranking Democrat on the committee,
expostulated with Mr.. Almon that this
was only wasting time and expense if
the committee was to delegate the
work of selecting where buildings
should be erected to Treasury and
Post ONCE officials.
Mckenzie Moss, Assistant Secretary
of the Treasury, under whose admin
istration IL the office of supervising
architectA told the committee thai
there is no disposition in the Treasury
Department to exalt the needs Of
the District and minimize the needs
of other sections of the country gen
orally.
I'VE are having a fearful time" he
said, meeting the requests for space,
not only in the larger cities, but in
scores of smaller places. The de-
partment is put to its utmost re-
sources to try to care for the exist
ing situation.