Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-18

work under the existing laws. This
preparation, begun two years ago, was
so much greater than anything that
had been conceived previous to the pres
ent program that it Ill behooves critics
Of the administration to say. why
now being incurred at an average rate
of 100000 month, which is many
times the normal rate Of contract obli-
gaticns made prior to the present pro-
gram
Congress has placed many laws on
the statute books outlining Government
procedure with respect to Federal con-
struction. These laws, for :. the most
part, were formulated for the protection
of Government funds, but they do not
make for speed when vast and scat
tered program Is being carried on, with
every possible influence crying for
speed. For instance, the laws under
which we are operating require full and
open competition in the solicitation OF
proposals for Government sites and
contracts. This one requirement Is q
time-taking process and one not gen.
orally followed in commercial practice,
but 1t is protecting every citizen IN his
rights.
Local Architects Again Used.
There are many other angles to sit
uation such as has developed in the
Treasury's building program. There is
feeling on the part of outside archl-
tects, who never before have taken much
interest in Federal buildings. that the
Treasury should do none Of its own de-
signing For SO years the Supervising
Architect of the Treasury has designed
most Of its buildings, and I must con-
fess that some Of them have been pretty
bad, but the buildings built SO years
NWfHD n a O..
vorably with buildings built by private
architects during those periods.
OF course, there will never be agree
ment reached as to just how much OF
purely governmental business should be
carried on by duly appointed govern
mental employees. It would seem to me
that the Supervising Architect of the
Treasury. in designing a post Office for
a small town in the West or large city
in the East, would not be competing
with local architects any more than
the Department Of Justice is competing
with local lawyers when its has its
representatives handling the Govern
ments legal problems in like commune
ties. There is, however, undoubtedly a
twilight zone beyond which the Gov
eminent should not go. Certainly in
this program the present administra-
ton has shown more sympathy with the
feeling Of local architects than has been
shown by any administration since
George Washington laid the corner
stone of the Capitol.
With over 100 local architectural
firms scattered throughout the United
States developing plans for new
Federal buildings, it is believed new
architectural ideas will be developed
which will accrue largely to the benefit
Of the Government in its buildings
for the future.
Local Materials Used Most.
There has been an enormous clamor
raised by various chambers of COM
merce and other organizations in cities
throughout the country that the Gov
eminent should use local contractors,
local labor and local materials The
depressed condition of the building
trades and everything allied with them
has had the effect of turning every
ones attention toward Government
construction The result has been an
enormous increase in the work of the
department, which is receiving now
over 1900 letters and kilograms a day
having to do with the building program
This administration has always had
in mind the welfare of the local COM
munity, but the law says that the Gov
eminent, when it requires any service
outside personal service, must advertise
for that service and award the contract
to the lowest responsible bidder. If a
contractor in Portland. Greg, wants to
bid on a governmental building to be
erected in Portland. Me, and he is a
responsible man with a record that
indicates he Is capable of carrying on
the contract, he must be awarded that
contract, II he Is only cents below
the local contractor.
The same situation prevails if these
two contractors wish to compete for
building in New York City. Having
once let a contract In a lump sum,
which method has been demonstrated
In the long run to be the most practi-
cal way Of handling a contract, the
Government could not insist on the
contractor using local materials, but,
as matter of fact. the specifications
are generally so drawn that local ma
terials are favored and it has been our
experience that speaking generally. !
local materials are used.
Local Wages Maintained.
In the payment of wages it has been
the policy Of this administration to see
That local wages were maintained on
Government contracts, and the Bacon
Davis law provides in the specifications
Of Government contracts that the sue
cessful contractor must pay the pre-
vafling rate of wages in the community
where the building is being built, and
II ne does not do so, his contract is
cancelled.
The Federal Government is carving
on the largest building construction
program ever undertaken at a time
when the industrial system of the
country is enduring great strains. AS 1 |
the rate of $10,000,000 a month and |
so far there have been almost no labor
difficulties and the work is proceeding
all over the country with an adequate |
wage being paid, and without INTERRUPT
ton of work because of labor con- /
troversy.
Not only did the administration have
to foreSee the necessity of increased |
public building because of possible I'M
employment, but a great amount of
advanced planning was necessary to |
great number of contracts on the mar
ket in an orderly fashion. There had
to be the most careful advanced plan
ming, and I believe the Treasury De-
partment Is well justified in pointing
with pride to the fact that Of the 800
new buildings for which funds are
available, 81 per cent have been COM
pleted, are under construction now, or
will be within few months time, and
by December practically the entire pro-
gram will be under way.
Scores Critics of Policy.
The breast heaters and wand wavers
who for various reasons disapprove of
the present administration have filled
the press with complaints and criti-
cism. There has been hardly a con-
structive criticism made in all these
months. I think there can be little
said against the policy of governmental
construction to care for the actual
needs of the Government during