Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11
CONGRESS TO PUSH
BUILDING PROGRAM
Elliott Bill for Purchase of
Ground Here to Get
Early Attention.

Congress will act just as soon as
possible to expedite the public build
ing program, both here in Washing
ton and throughout the States.
The first legislation to be taken up
by the House committee on public
buildings and grounds as soon as its
membership is filled by the Repub-
lican committee on committees will
be the Elliott bill authorizing an ap-
preparation of $25,000,000 to acquire
the triangle south of Pennsylvania
avenue to the Mall. and the Reed
bill to increase the Federal building
fund another $l00,000,00O and in
crease the amount that can be spent
each year from $25.000,000 to $780,
900, 900.
Representative Wood of Indiana,
chairman of the Republican con-
gressional committee, who is also
prominent member of the House APP
preparations committee, is especially
anxious to have the 00,OO0,090 in
crease made and to Increase from
$25, 900 900 to $50,000,000 the. amount
to be expended next year, so as to
get caught up on the building pro-
gram that was held back for one year
by the failure of the measure behind
the filibuster at the close of the last
session of Congress.
House Ready to Approve.
The membership of the House is
ready to vote for any increase within
reason and not one word has been
heard in opposition to such legislation.
The only fear is that it may not be in
harmony with the financial policy Of
the President, whose budget MESA ge
showed that the recommendations for
appropriation ($3,556 ,957, ,03D run un-
usually close to the prospective SO, ,SO9,-
497,314 revenue, leaving a safety bal
ance of only 1852. .540,2S3.
The building program already au-
thoriZed is for $165 900 900, of which
500, ,000,0 900 is throughout the United
States as a whole, 1000, 900 in the
National Capital and $15,000,000 to
carry out the building program of 1913
which was delayed by the war, with
costs of construction increased thereby.
1t provided that no more than $685.
900 900 should be spent in any one year
and set limit on the amount to be
spent in any one State. This was
$40. .0O0,0 900 throughout the country,
$l0,000,0 900 in Washington and $4,000
900 to carry along the leftover work
from 1913.
Under the Reed bill. which was
made rider on the $25 .000,000 bill
for "cquisition of the Avenue triangle
in the last Congress and failed only
because of the Senate filibuster. the
amount to be spent annually was to
be increased to $35 900, 900. of which
$40 .000. 900 would be for general use
throughout the country. $lO.O00,0Oo
for Washington and $5,00O,O 900 Tor
three years until the 1913 program
was completed. when the fund to be
spent annually in the States would be
increased to $25 900, 900.
Chairman Madden of the House APP
propriations committee clearly eX-
plained the public buildings situation
in presenting the urgent deficiency bill
which has already passed the House,
CARRYING $8,131,5S3.56 for the public
building fund.
The failure of the public buildings
appropriation bill has postponed Tor
practically a year the entrance upon
the program designed to relieve the
congestion and inadequacy which exist
in facilities of the Government for the
transaction of the public business
throughout the country. The bill con-
tained approximately $20,000,0OO for
carrying work under this program.
In the deficiency appropriation bill
there is included $S,131 ,5S3.56 for pub
lie buildings. the sum of $5,306, ,5S3 So
for the continuance of work on build
ings authorized in 1918 (now under
contract or ready to be placed unGer
contract). $725 900 for four projects au-
thorized prior to the enactment of the
act of May 25. 1926, and $2.1000 900 for
work on buildings in the District of
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