Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-18
Controller General McCari
Blocks Use of Appropriation
for Building Annex.
FACILITIES FOR EATING
MAKE GRAVE PROBLEM
Ruling Declares That Building Of
Lunch Room Is Not Supplies"
or Equipment"

Efforts of the Census Bureau to build
a lunch room for its 5000 temporary
employees now engaged in census work
near Sixth street and Missouri avenue
were blocked today by Controller Gen.
eral McCarl
While census officials refused flatly
to discuss the matter, 1t was learned
indirectly that they were deeply dis
appointed at the controller generals
decision, which denies them the use OF
$13,500 for lunch room of funds al
ready appropriated for the Census
Bureau.
The luncheon situation at noontime
has been approaching serious proper
tions, causing congestion in the streets
and the lack of suitable luncheon IA
cilitieS has been growing serious as the
crowd Of workers increases. Small
lunch wagons line the streets at the
noon hour and all lunch rooms in the
immediate vicinity are overcrowded.
Use of Funds Opposed.
Secretary of Commerce Lamont put
the question up to Controller General
McCarl in the form of a query as to
whether the Secretary could use funds
already appropriated to put up an adj
dition or an extension to temporary
building D at Sixth and Missouri ave-
nue. TO be used as lunch room.
1T is proposed" said the McCarl de-
cision, Ito construct the addition or
extension on the north side of the ex-
listing building with connections thereto,
the total cost being estimated at 3d.
500. 1t is represented that existing
conditions at lunch time impede the
progress of the work incident to the
census and that proper lunch facilities
are essential to a completion of the
census work within the time allotted"
The item in the appropriation which
the Department of Commerce thought
could be used was appropriated by Con-
gress for the purchase of supplies and
equipment, including books of refer
ence periodicals, maps, manuscripts,
punch cards and materials and other
contingent expenses
McCarl, in denying the request, de-
clared that "manifestly the erection of
a building or Of an extension or addi-
ton to a building cannot be regarded
as the purchase of supplies (or) and
equipment
Furthermore. McCarl declared. it had
been held uniformly that provisions of
law preclude the erection of any pub
lie buildings or public Improvements
including an. extension or addition to
a public building--under an appropria-
ton not specifically therefor Clearly
an appropriation for purchase of sup
plies and equipment and other contin-
gent expenses is not specific appro-
priatfon for the erection of building
or of an extension or Of an addition to
a building"
Building Is Temporary.
In addition, McCarl pointed out that
the old Building d is classed as tenn
porary." is designed for use by the Gov
eminent. and neither this building nor
any addition to it could reasonably be
claSSed as a necessary instrumentality
in the administration and execution of
the appropriation act" for the Bureau Of
the Census.
Meantime, it is understood that on
Gals of the Department of Commerce
are making efforts to provide some kind
of lunch room facilities through other
channels How successful they viii be
they do not know at this time. With
the approach Of Fall and Winter, how
ever it Is felt that something urgent
must be done and the situation would
become practically impossible in the in
clement Winter weather with sleet and
snow holding employees to a nearby
area during their lunch period at noon.