Evening star., 1926-02-14

WHICH Tune lne growth OF pODilc DOS-
iness, both in Washington and in va
rious parts Of the country, has re-
suited in an accumulated shortage of
office space for Federal workers.
Situation Acute Here
The situation is particularly acute
IN Washington because Of the fact
that many employees are housed in
temporary war structures on which
the cost OF upkeep is high. and be.
cause other departments are paving
large sums annually for the rental Of
private buildings.
Senator Smoot of Utah. chairman OF
the commission in charge Of public
building space in Washington. said he
would not be able to state definitely
which buildinGNUould be taken UP first
until Congress acts on the building
program. The pending legislation
leaves TO the decision of the commits.
sion, OF which Senator Smoot is chair
man. the question Of where new
buildings should be placed in Wash.
ington, and the order in which the
buildings for the various depart
| ments should be erected.
Priority Doubtful.
Rapidly changing conditions in the
business Of the various departments
of Washington. according to those in
close touch with the affairs, par-ticu-
larry with regard to space needs make
| II almost impossible at this time 10
! say what activities will receive pri.
| or1ty when Congress authorizes the
construction Of new public buildings.
! An extensive survey of housing con.
| d1tionS for the Government depart.
| ments was made in 1915, however, at
| which time plans and specifications
: we're drawn for buildings for the State
Department, Department of Justice
department Of Labor. the Archives
Building and the center wing of the
Department of Agriculture. But the
great change in threse departments
! since that time will make a com
plete survey necessary before con.
struction of any of them is begun
and 1t may be necessary TO let some
| wait until other greatly expanded
| activities have been taken care Of
such as the General Accounting Office
and the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
Another instance Of the kind of
problems which have grown up in
the 10 years between the first survey
| and now is that Of the Department
! OF Commerce. At that time that
| branch of the Government had only
| 1,1S8 employees, while today it has
| $3.50 employees, which does not. of
course, include the Patent Office and
Bureau of Mines, which since have
been transferred to it. Radio activi-
| ties also have increased
Changes in Interiors.
| While it was pointed out that plans
| have been made for some of the
| buildings, there will have to be ex.
| tensions, redesigning OF the interior
/ office ri
; tions and possibly more ground ac-
| quired for the sites to take care of
| the increased business.
The original exterior designs for
| those buildings which already have
been planned will be carried out and
| that the changes only will have to
| be made in the interiors.
In December Senator Smoot intro
duced bill authorizing the construc.
| tion of certain buildings and named
| them in the following order: Bureau
of Internal Revenue. Department of
Justice. General Accounting once,
| Department of Agriculture, National
Archives Building. General Supply
| Committee Building, Department Of
| Commerce, Department of Labor and
Interstate Commerce Commission. At
| the time this list was believed to
furnish the priority which should
| be given such building needs, but
it was pointed out by those in close
| touch with this branch of govern
mental affairs that since then condi-
tions have changed which would
| make a new priority list necessary
when the money for new buildings
| Is authorized
| For instance, the Department OF
| Justice is second on the list. Since
that time the lease for the Depart.
ment Of Justice Building has been re.
newed, and it was added that naturally
| this activity could wait for a perma-
| nent building until other and now
/ more important needs are taken care
of. The Bureau Of Internal Revenue
| the General Accounting Office are two
activities which. it was said, must be
given prompt attention, as they are
scattered over the city in rented and
| temporary Government buildings.
Space conditions in the Government
departments are constantly under sur
.. vey. A day does not go by when some
department does not seek additional
space. Because Of this almost daily
survey Of conditions it will not take
long to make the necessary survey
to determine upon priority list.