Evening star., 1926-04-29
TWOSENATORSASK
ARCHIVES BUILDING
FesS and Smoot Stress Fire
Hazard in Plea to Safe
guard Records.

A record Of the many fires that have
occurred on Government property In
the last half century was cited py
Senator Fess, Republican, OF ONO, 70
show the necessity for an Archives
Building. during debate on the puonc
buildings bill in the Senate yesterday
afternoon.
Senator Fess said there are 10 States
In each OF which f1reproof Duildins
separate from the State Capltol mas
been erected for the protection OF I'M.
portant records relating to the nAs'ofS
Of the State.
Senator Norris Of Nebraska said ne
recalled that when he was q memoer
Of the House 20 years ago there was
q movement to establish an ArcnlNes
Building to save valuable RECORDS IRON.
the danger Of fire, and that tract OF
land was bought, but was useo SeaiS
afterward for the new Interior bulla'
ing. The Senator from Nebraska tooh
the view there will always be danger
Of public documents being destroyed
By fire, and that this is not the proper
time, in view Of efforts to economize'
to start a new movement lot All
Archives Building.
Hazard Called Greater.
Senator Smoot OF Utah, chairman o
+
ciared the fire hazard to Government
records has increased hundreo1olo
in recent years. AS an example. ne
told Of the keeping of income tax re-
turns in one of the temporary war
buildings. If those returns should go
up In smoke they could not Do re-
placed, Senator Smoot asserted
But what I am more Interested In
now than anything elese." Senator
cv,0o% continued fn ret the EN-.
ployes in the District Of Columbia. as
well as the records, out OF these tenn
porary buildings. In many cases these
are now nearly falling down."
Senator Smoot said a fireproof ouilo'
ing, in which to preserve valuable old
documents of the Government, Ia need
ed not only Cor protection from names.
but also to save them from the raw
ages Of dampness. In the basement
of the Capitol Building, he said, there
are valuable records, which, when
brought out into the light Of day for
reference, disintegrate. On one occa-
sion, the Senator said. he tried to con-
suit one OF the old volumes stored in
the basement, and the pages crumbled
before he could turn them.
Other Buildings Discussed.
Following this discussion Of the local
situation. the session yesterday after.
noon was taken up by speeches by
Senator Robinson OF Arkansas and
Senator Mayfield of Texas, both Demo
Gratis, In opposition to that part OF the
bill relating to public buildings for the
country as a whole.
Senator Robinson leveled his crit
icism at the proposal to give the
Secretary Of the Treasury discre-
tionary power in deciding when and
where structures should be erected
out Oh the s1o0.oo0.o00 to be spent
outside of Washington. Senator Rob-
inson also contended that the Ian.
guage of the bill directing the Treas
ury Department to complete build
ings authorized in 1913 is not clear.
Senator Mayfield opposed the bin
on the ground that Congress is abdi.
eating power conferred upon it by
the Constitution by allowing the
Treasury Department to pass upon
the location Of public buildings.
Fayoritism Is Suggested.
Senator Robinson also attacked the
bill on the theory that favoritism and
political influence would enter into
the location of buildings If discre-
Department.
Senator Lenroot. Republican, Of
Wisconsin, defended the measure,
declaring there are only two Ques-
tions involved-economy and eff.
cheney in Government. Congress. he
said, either must accept this bill or
return to the old pork barrel type
OF legislation.
In calling up the buildings bill
yesterday, Senator Fernald of Maine.
in charge Of the measure, announced
his intention Of keeping 1t before the
Senate until 1t Is disposed of. The
bill has already passed the House.