Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-22
Spending Millions, His Job

generally the local material Is used on
Government job"
Turning to the question Of wages,
Maj. Heath said: 1T has been the policy
of the administration to see that local
wages were maintained on Government
contracts, and the Bacon-Davis law
provides in the specifications of govern
mental contracts that the successful
contractor, after he is awarded the coN-
tract, must pay the prevailing rate OF
wages in the community where the
building is to be built, and If he does
not do so his contract Is Cancelled. The
result has been in these very troublouS
times, in which there are so many fam
lilies filled with anxiety over the future,
we have had almost no labor difficulties
and the work Is proceeding all over the
country with an adequate wage being
paid and without interruption of worf
because of labor controversies.
The development of the Federal City
here in Washington has received much
of the Assistant Secretary's personal at
tention. He not only follows the de-
velopment of the local public building
program under the Treasury supervision
very closely, but occasionally visits the
sites themselves. He broke ground foi
the Archives Building with q spade
now historically labeled to mark the
opening of the second great phase Of
the Governments majestic plans for
this city.
FOreSees Beauty Of Future.
The National Capital of the future,
Maj. Heath predicts, will be one Of the
most beautiful cities on earth. A large
part of this development is under the
Treasury Department, while other
phases are being carried forward by
- .f.%N.1 .zns-E - -
CT the Capitol. the Office of Public
Buildings and Public Parks of the Ma
tional Capital and the Municipal Gov
eminent.
When this great new all-round de-
velopment Is completed Mai Heath pre-
dicted that the visitors to this country
will find themselves greeted by majesty
and beauty.
upon arriving In his own Nations
Capital" said Mai. Heath, 1.-The citizen
Of the republic will leave his train, step
out into a great garden of pools, lawns,
fountains. flowers and shaded walks and
will see the great dome of the Capitol
looming above its rejecting pool He
then will drive down past the Capitol,
past Union Plaza, with Grant Monu-
ment assuming the Importance it de-
serves; proceed down the great govern
mental avenue now called Constitution
sive architectural compositions in the
world looms on his right and the gar
dens and parkway of the Mall on his
left
THE group of buildings under con-
struction will not only be magnificent
from an architectural standpoint, but
Will give workers of the Federal Gov
eminent the most efficient housing for
the purpose to be found anywhere"
President Hoover should and will re-
ceive the credit due him as one of the
great builders of all time, Maj Heath
believes, for the President sensed the
necessity of building as relief measure.
He directed plans so that money was
available to carry to completion in a
few years here In the Nations Capital
what the most enthusiastic residents
| OF Washington believed would take Is
| years.
Secretary Mellon is praised by Mai
Heath for his sound sense, great
ability, experience and direction of
operation, which made it all possible"
Carries Brunt Of Battle.
Those who are in the thick Of the
| fight know that the brunt of the battle
falls on the Assistant Secretary Of the
Treasury, into whose Office there flows
a constant stream of people who want
something done their way. It is Mai.
Heath who meets them--architectS,
contractors members of Congress, dele
cations from cities and towns, mayors,
real estate men and many others.
Under this pressure the Assistant
Secretary in charge always controls
himself" according to one Of his as
sociateS. In controversies over sites for
public buildings Maj Heath, who IS
| the chairman of the joint Committee
From the Post ONCE and Treasury De-
partments on Site Selection, is known
to appreciate to the fullest extent the
interest of a community in the expendi-
ture of Federal funds in that COM
munity. He believes that the people
from there as well as their representa-
tives in Congress should have their
"full say"
Able to grasp quickly any proposition.
Maj. Heath is said to go ahead quickly
without delay when he believes he Is
right.
Besides medicine ball with the Presi-
| dent, Maj. Heath occasionally plays golf
and tennis to keep fit. He stands feet
1914 inches in height and weighs 172
pounds.
Maj. Heath halls from Grand Rapids,
Mich, where he was born in 1876. He
attended the University of Michigan.
He Is veteran of both the Spanish
American and the Would War, and after
the armistice became chief Of the Mis-
sion to Finland in the American Relief
Administration under Herbert Hoover.
After this service he again engaged IN
business in Michigan until the last
presidential campaign, when he was
made assistant treasurer of the Repub.
lican National Committee. He entered
the Treasury as Assistant Secretary in
June. 1929. He belongs to the Metro
politan Club of this city, the University
Club of Chicago and is a member OF
] A1nha Delta Phi Fraternity