Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-07
The Larger Building Program.

me Smoot-Underhill Dill, which has
passed the Senate, providing for an.
preparation of $25, GOO, 900 for purchase
OF all of the privately owned land in
the triangle between Pennsylvania
avenue and the Mall as sites for an
orderly grouping of new buildings for
various units of the Government, is
under consideration in the House to-
day under suspension of the rules,
with every indication that it will be
passed, as it should be.
1t carries the support of President
Coolidge, of Secretary Mellon, of the
Budget Bureau, of the Public Build
ings Commission, the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission, the
Commission of Fine Arts and the
House committee on public buildings
and grounds.
The Reed bill to increase the amount
for much needed Post Office buildings
all over the country from Sis, 900, 900
to $215,000,000, and increasing the
amount available annually for new
buildings outside of Washington from
$4,000, 900 to $4,000 900 Immediately
and to $35, 100000 after the fifth year
will be added as an amendment to the
triangle purchase bill.
Congress-is to be commended for it's
building problem. 1t has cast into the
discard that most inefficient practice
Of parceling out the public buildings
known as the old pork barrel sys-
tenn of favoritism and pull. 1t Is act.
ing in businesslike manner to re-
lieve as promptly and as fully as pos
sible the most pressing immediate
needs of the Government.
The action in acquiring all Of the
triangle south of Pennsylvania avenue
is real economy and looks to a better
coordination of the various units of
the Government which are to be 10.
Gated there, making possible proper
consideration of factors of transporta-
ton and fire protection. Secretary
business transaction, and out of his
testimony before the House committee
on public buildings and grounds the
broadening of the Post Office building
program for the entire country was
developed. It was based on his esti-
mates of just how much money the
supervising architects Office would be
able to spend efficiently.
The plan now being carried out is
really in the interests of economy be-
cause it will promote the efficiency of
the Federal service. It also focuses
the attention of the whole country on
the work of the Government, giving
a physical assurance OF Uncle Sans
interest in each community, making
it feel that it is part of the Gov
eminent.
1t Is the most far-reaching and COM
prehensive and businesslike public
building program ever undertaken by
any government in the worlds history.
1t gives considerable employment all
over the country. 1t stimulates bust
ness, not only in the structural steel,
cement, brick, lumber and hardware
lines, but the erection of a Federal
building in each community stirs up
all local business and industry.
Chairman Elliott of the House com
mittee deserves general commentator
for his vision and perseverance, in de.
livering the Government from the old
system, and for getting an impressive
start made on q building program that
will eventually cost half billion dol
lars, where now only the first half of
that amount is authorized in the bill
that passed last session and the
Smoot- Underhill and Reed bills that
are expected to be passed today.