Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-12
FLETCHER CHARGE
DECLARED UNTRUE
Assistant Secretary Heath of
Treasury Sees Buildings
Well Under Way.

Sharply replying to charges by Sen
ator Fletcher of Florida, that the Gov
ernment's public building program was
being held up, Assistant Secretary of
the Treasury Heath last night branded
the Senator's complaints as grossly
inaccurate"
Maj. Heath occupies place Of re-
sponsibility in charge of the Treasury's
work Of carrying forward the public
building program, but he is also very
close to the President himself, calling
frequently at the White House.
He not only charged the Senator
with being grossly Inaccurate" but he
produced facts to show that program
of more than 100000 in new con-
struction was now well under way In
Senator Fletcher's own State.
Blue Prints Lacking.
The Florida Senator had declared
that the work was being held up by a
George H. Gray of the American Insti-
tute of Architects, as saying the build
ing program would not be caught up
with until 1887 by the Government ar
cnitectural staff. He urged alloting the
work to private architects.
Replying to this, Maj. Heath said:
1.-THE Democratic National Committee
was especially unfortunate in choosing
their spokesman to sponsor this attack
upon the administrations building pro-
gram. In the State of Florida, which
he represents" explained Maj. Heath,
there has been authorized 1881 900 of
expenditure. Work has already been
taken up in one stage or another to the
extent of $6,651,000, and Of this
amount private architects in his own
State are doing $5,140,000 of the work."
The statement of Senator Fletcher
that expenditures would not catch up
with the funds available at the present
progress until 1887. Maj. Heath charac-
terized as obviously untrue"
The Office of the supervising archi-
tect." he said. with the assistance of
private architects is proceeding with
the building program at a rate faster
than contemplated by Congress under
present legislation, and unless the an
nual limit of expenditures Is increased
by Congress the Treasury Department
cannot maintain its present rate beyond
the Summer of 1882.
Information Held Inaccurate.
"It is unfortunate" continued Mai.
Heath, that the Democratic National
Committee, through it spokesman, Sen
ator Fletcher, used information that
was not only inaccurate, but contrary to
the fects in almost every particular.
The facts concerning the building pro-
gram have been published repeatedly,
and, if the truth were desired, correct
information Is obtainable at any time
regarding its progress. The press has
stated many times that the present
Federal building program, under the
Treasury Department, contemplates an
expenditure of $1,000 900. The actual
amount for which specific authorize
tions have been made by Congress, and
for which drawings can be commenced,
amounts to $495, AL 1925. OF this
amount about $407 100000 has already
been taken up by projects, for which
drawings are in the making, or which
lie between that stage and actual COM
pletion of the buildings themselves. For
the past six months contract obliga-
lions under this program have averaged
about S10,O00.000 per month, or at the
rate of 100000 900 annually. OF prof.
ectS in this category, private architects
have been employed for 100 projects,
which call for an expenditure OF
S227,612,0o0.
"The statements that the department
has built up huge beaureaucracy en-
ploying TOO or 300 craftsmen Is untrue,
and that this huge beaureaucracy. to-
gether with an entirely inadequate sup
ply of blue prints, is delaying the public
building program, are likewise untrue.
There are 342 craftsmen in the super
vising architects Office and the blue
print division issued last month 10000
blue prints which is about 10000 less
than its present capacity"