Evening star., 1926-02-16
The Public BUILDINGS Bill.

Yesterday under a SUSPENSION OF the
rules the House by vote or ?63 70
120 passed the genera: public bull
ings bill, unique measure in the his
tory Of construction legislation This
bill authorizes the Secretary of the
Treasury to acquire sites and to erect
buildings needed for Government serv-
ice in Washington and elsewhere, and
for this purpose authorizes the appro-
priation Of $165, ,oGc 900. of which $50
100000 will be expended for structures
in the District. 1t does not actually
appropriate a dollar. but. as was ex
planned yesterday. It empowers the
Secretary Of III Treasury. and, in the
case of post Offices. the Postmaster
General to make acquisitions for ap-
preparations.
While one Congress cannot bind an
other. II is accepted that If this bill
should become law. there vii! be no
doubt Of the provision Of funds here
after, as the various projects author
lied by it and undertaken by the Sec
retary of the Treasury and the Post.
master General are at the point OF
execution and appropriations are nee.
essary. In the case Of the buildings
in the District of Columbia the appro-
priations, it is understood. though not
specified, are to be at the rate of $10,-
100000 a year for FIVE years. The bill
stipulates that mot more than $10.-
600, 900" shall be expended annually.
In the execution of this act the Sec
retary of the Treasury is authorized
to use sites already acquired, or. in
case they are not deemed suitable, to
acquire others and to dispose Of the
old ones. In all cases In the District
of Columbia If construction requires
the use of contiguous squares author
ity is given for closing and vacating
portions of streets lying between the
squares and alleys intersecting them.
This is a wise provision, inasmuch
as in a number of cases In the past
single squares chosen for building
sites have proved too small and with
the need of subsequent engagements
embarrassments have arisen. In the
case of the sites already owned by the
Government at the western end OF the
Mall-Avenue triangle and other lands
lying in that general area the ignor-
ing of street lines would be advan-
tageous.
The need of additional department
and bureau buildings in Washington
requires no stressing. In the debate
yesterday in the House it was clearly
stated. One member said:
1t has been repeatedly pointed out
on the floor of this House, as well as
conclusively shown in the hearings
before the committee on public build
ings and grounds, that there is an
emergency existing in the housing
problem Of the Federal Government.
The internal revenue department Is
now scattered in ten separate build
ings, the general accounting Office Is
scattered in twentyone buildings, and
the Agricultural Department in forty
five different buildings. A constituent
told me a short time ago. that he had
to take a guide in q taxfcab in order
to find his way to different depart
ments in the city of Washington. Not
only that, but public records and even
human lives are daily menaced by fire.
The condition in Washington alone Is
intolerable, and I do not believe the
American Congress can further JUS
tify itself in refusing to take some
action to relieve the situation.
This bill now goes to the Senate. 1t
should have prompt consideration and
be speedily passed. 1t should be rated
as an emergency measure, for the con-
ditions Of which the member just
quoted spoke are acute and require
the earliest possible relief. Enactment
within few weeks will perhaps per-
NIT the preparation Of plans for a be-
ginning on this work in time for an
appropriation to be made at the pres.
ent session to enable the Secretary of
the Treasury to save a year in actO.
ally starting the execution Of this long
delayed program.
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