Evening star., 1926-05-09
MANY LEGISLATIVE, DETAILS
FACE PUBLIC. BUILDINGS BILL
First Deficiency Appropriation of Not More Than
$1O,OOO,OOO to Be Pushed for Action
at This Session.

ing space as conditions require, is
, thoroughly familiar with the situation
nevertheless the task is a big order
with so many of the Government bu
reaus calling for relief from cramped
quarters.
Conditions are changing so rapidly
in the matter of space allotment, ac-
cording to those familiar with the sit
uation, it is almost impossible at this
time to say what department or bu-
reau will be the first to receive atten-
tiOn.
Several weeks ago the Internal
Revenue Bureau, now scattered in
quarters of various types and condt-
tionS in various parts Of the city
| was believed to require the first at
tention, with the General Accounting
Office next. However, the Public
Buildings Commission only hast week
ordered all of the activities of the
Pension Bureau removed to the In
terror Department Building to which
department it belongs. and at the
| same time directed that the General
Accounting Office, also scattered, be
assigned the Pension Building, central
izing its activities, A subcommittee
| of the Public Buildings Commission,
| consisting of Maj. L. S. Grant. Sd,
| director of the office of public build
| ings and public parks of the National
| Capital; James f. Wetmore, super
! vising architect of the Treasury De-
! partment, and David Lynn, architect
Isef the Capitol now is working out
the details.
The work of preparing the plans
and specifications, It was said, will
require an expansion of the force in
! the office ~ the supervising architect.
not only for the preparation OF the
| plans for the local buildings, but for
! the scores of others to be erected in
various parts of the country, as the
| measure, in addition to providing $780,
| 600. 900 for buildings here, carries an
| appropriation of $115. 100000 for build
| ings in other parts of the country.
Experts to Be Employed.
| The supervising architect of the
| Treasury is authorized to employ
also such experts as are required in
! the preparation of the plans and
! specifications. and this probably will
call to Washington some of the ex-
pert designers of the country.
When the matter reaches the build
ing stage there will have to be assem-
bled here a large corps of Govern
ment inspectors to serve in connec-
ton with the work. and the construc-
ton itself, it was added. probably will
bring to Washington a large corps of
workers. including clerks, craftsmen
artisans etc. AS the construction
work will be done by contract, these
will be employed by the successful
bidders for the work involved.
The buildings are to be carried OF
in continuing contracts so that it is
probable, ii is said. that there may be
one or more buildings carried on al
one time after the Public Buildings
Commission performs its tasks. The
bill, as it stands now. provides that
not exceeding $l0,000,000 be spent
here each year on the buildings, sc
that it may be possible to start more
than one.
But officials point out that the
whole question is vet in the formative
stage, and until all the legislative de
tails in the passage of the bill are com
pleted and the funds appropriated
nothing is certain.
Probably one of the first sites Sc
lected for treatment will be that be.
tween Fourteenth and Fifteenth
streets, south of Pennsylvania avenue
| to r street, bought some years ago