Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-06

pubic DulIOlnSS throughout the COun-
try" and emphasizing that this was
we'll known to each member when the
act of May 25, 1926, was enacted into
law"
Act Authorized $165, 0OO,OO
This act authorized an appropria-
ton of $165, 900, 900, of which $50. 900 900
was for sites and buildings in the Dis
trict of Columbia, and $4,000, 900 to
under the omnibus public buildings
act of 1913 which could not be built
within the limits of cost. This makes
available, under the act Of May %,
1926, the sum of 500, 000,0 900 for con-
struction work in the country at large
There were certain limitations of ex-
penditure. 1t is provided in that act
that expenditures may not exceed
$25 100000 per annum, of which
amount not more than $4,000, 900 may
be expended annually in the District
of Columbia. This leaves $4,000, 900
to be spent outside the District of
Columbia, but for the fiscal years
1927, 1928 and 1929, respectively, at
least one-third shall be for buildings
authorized in prior acts. This leaves
only $4,000, 900 per annum for new
construction for the entire country
during the fiscal years 1927, 1928 and
1929.
1t soon became apparent to the
members of the House that $4,000 900
spent annually on new projects would
not meet the present and rapidly in
creasing needs of the country. When
the hearings were held on the triangle
bill Is. $685. the subject was gone
into very fully and the testimony OF
the officials of the Treasury Depart
ment and the Post Office Department
disclosed the necessity for a liberaliza-
ton of the building program TO meet
the urgent needs of the country at
large.
Sought Liberal Program.
The purpose Mr.. Reed had in intro.
ducing his bill authorizing further
appropriation Of 100000, 900 for Fed.
eral buildings was to liberalize the
building program without changing
the policy of the act of May 25, 1926.
What it actually does in this respect
is to increase the annual expenditure
from $25,000,000 to $35 100000.
1t does not increase either the an
nual expenditure or the total expendi-
ture for the District of Columbia as
provided in the act of May rs, 1926.
the Reed bin as amended by the COM
mittee will be spent outside of the
District of Columbia.
In other words it will make avail
able annually for building construction
outside the District of Columbia, $780,
100000 instead of $10,000,000.
Limitations Are Imposed.
1t is provided further, as amended,
that: "* not more than $685.
100000 in the aggregate shall be
expended annually except that any
part of the balance of such sum of
$35, 100000 remaining unexpended at
the end of any year may be expended
in any subsequent year without refer
ence to this limitation.
Another important limitation is as
follows:
Provided further, that expenditures
outside the District of Columbia under
the provisions of this section shall not
exceed the sum of $5,00O,000 annually
in any one of the States, Territories.
or possessions of the United States"
These limitations insure the annual
expenditure of S20,000,000 for the con-
struction of new buildings outside OF
the District of Columbia and limits the
annual expenditure in any one of the
States, Territories or possessions of
the United States to $4,000, 900.
Mr. Reed calls attention to the fact
that under the provisions of this legis-
lation there will be available after the
years 1927, 1928 and 1929, $25 200, 900
annually for the country at large, and
after the expiration of five years there
will be available for the country at
large the sum of $35,000.000.
Will Relieve Small Cities.
The liberalization of the act of May
25, 1926, will meet the urgent needs Of
the country at a much earlier date
than would otherwise be possible. IT
will bring relief to the smaller cities
where conditions are in many in
stances intolerable.
Failure TO enact this legislation
will cause inexcusable delay in meet
ing a widespread national emerg
ency," Representative Reed told his
colleagues.
This legislation will conform to the
policy embodied in the act of May 25,
1926: it is in harmony with the Presi
dents financial program and it has
the approval of the Post Office De-
partment and the Treasury Depart
ment
Analysis of the existing law and of
the enlargement of it as proposed in
the Reed bill shows graphically just
what is sought by the legislation to
be urged tomorrow, as follows: