Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-01

vestigator of the Bureau of Efficiency,
and Arthur Halsted, electrical engi-
neer of the Bureau Of Standards. This
trio intends today and tomorrow to
| tour the city on an inspection of every
piece of signal apparatus installed as
result of the contracts between the
District government and the Grouse
Kinds Co. for the equipment, and be.
tween the District and the Potomac
Electric Power Co. for the installation.
Since 1t will occupy virtually all of
the time of the investigators check
ing the equipment on the street and
in storehouses today and tomorrow, II
is expected that the hearings of the
subcommittee on this specific point
will not be resumed until Thursday
or Friday.
Representative Gilbert of Kentucky
had expected last night to enter upon
the investigation Of the circumstances
surrounding the erection of the rs
room, 3.story addition to Western
High School two years ago, but the
fact that the House went into session
last night, necessitating his presence
| on the floor, resulted in the meeting
being postponed. There will be no
meeting of the Gibson subcommittee
tonight. Mr.. Gilbert said today that
he must attend caucus of the House
Democrats tonight and therefore Is
obliged to postpone the scheduled
hearing.
Harris to Testify.
Municipal Architect A. L. Harris.
who had charge of the planning and
general supervision Of the building Of
the Western High School addition, Is
expected to be the first witness to be
called by the committee. He was pres
ent last night when the meeting was
postponed, armed with a mass Of data
for reference during testimony.
The history of the Western High
School addition started with the appro-
priation of $550,000 for the building.
A three-s story building had been
sought. but 1t was decided by Mr..
| Harris to limit the building to two
stories because of the limitations of
the appropriation. Accordingly, plans
| for a two story. 1S-room structure
were made, and bids were sought.
Parsons & Hyman, Inc. was the low
bidder, with an estimate of $47S.000
for the two.story building. The bid
was accepted, and when the second
story was approaching completion
the District authorities obtained an
additional sum OF $4,000 in a den
cheney appropriation to complete the
third story.
$4,000 Above Appropriation.
The third story addition to the
structure allowed an additional ~
rooms. and it was deemed best TO al.
low the contractors who had materlai
and men right on the job and VINO
furnished a general "costplus cs,,'
mate of $40 900 to finish off the work:
AS a matter of fact, when the 1nai
balance was struck. the "cost-plus'
addition amounted to $s5.s19.S9. AND
the whole building cost 1858 ,S1S.SS. al.
most $4,000 more than the original
appropriation.
rThis did not include some $14,250
as the ga per cent fee the municipal
architect's office was permitted to take
| II, cueh contracts. for overhead and
srnerintendence. With that deducted
| from the total amount of the original
| annropriation, plus the deficiency ap-
nropriation, which provided, all told
s5s2 900 for the building. there was
lust $5,531.11 left.
The controller general OF the United
States, however, decided to look into
this contract and a 100-page report
was submitted to him by the munich
| nal architect, as well as report by
| the District auditor, D. j. Donovan
MANY of the items in the cost.plus
{ addition were disallowed for reasons
then specified and this amount has
been more or less tied up since that
time.
| The committee hearing, 1t Is ex
pected, will attempt to delve deeply
| into all circumstances surrounding
the making of the contract touching
upon the action Of the controller gen
eral. Special attention, it Is under
stood, will be paid to the expenditures
made with relation to the cost'p plus
! contract.