Evening star., 1932-02-19
HEATH HITS CRITICS
OF j. s. ARC|TECTS,
WARNS0F CHANGES
Treasury Building Director
Fears Move to Block
Federal Work.
SEES WIDE BENEFITS
FROM MANY PROJECTS
Declares Private Interests Seeking
Profits, but Government Force
Cuts Expenses.

Striking back at critics of the Office
Of Supervising Architect of the Treasury
Department, Maj. Ferry K. Heath, AS
sistant Secretary Of the Treasury in
charge Of the Government building pro-
gram, last night predicted that certain
changes proposed in present law would
lead to disastrous consequences"
Maj. Heath told the Association of
Federal Architects at their annual ban
quet at the Washington Hotel, however,
that "it is very possible that investiga-
ton will demonstrate the wisdom OF
concentration Of all Government con-
struction under one head" as is being
proposed in several bills now pending
before Congress There is no doubt"
he said, that private business would so
organize its construction activities. And
am not referring in any way to such
reorganization of our public building
works when I say that change in the
present law would bring disastrous con-
sequences
Several phases of criticism which
have been leveled at the Treasury De-
partment were taken up by Maj. Heath
and answered in detail. The work OF
the Government architect was roundly
defended and praised. The speaker did
not go into detail. however. on pending
legislation.
significant development of the eve
ming was the presence Of Frank c.
Baldwin, secretary of the American In
stitute of Architects, an organization
arch critics. Mr.. Baldwin made
friendly speech to the Government ar
chitects, gathered from several depart
| ments.
In a brief speech shortly afterward
Louis A. Simon. head of the architec-
tural division of the Supervising Archi-
i tect's Office, replied to Mr.. Baldwin's
overtures in a similarly friendly vein.
Maj Heath, who was the principal
speaker of the evening, read his address
as he had prepared it in advance, with
! few interpretations and with no extern
poraneous reference to the new matter
injected into the evenings discussion by
Mr.. Baldwin The ether speeches had
preceded Mr.. Heath. whose address was
/ broadcast over Station WJSV at 9 o'clock.
Strikes at Criticism.
| Although he struck back with vigor
at the criticisms against his Office and
laid his cards on the table, Mai. Heath
dealt with consideration with the mat
| ter of officials of the architects or
ganizaticn.'
II believe that the money now being
expended in the Federal construction
program can be defended from any
point of view" said Maj. Heath.
The Treasury, Maj. Heath said. has
been under pressure from the prominent
citizens of the various States and every
other sort of influence not only to en-
ploy their friends, but to favor their
| friends in governmental purchases. This
perfectly natural feeling on the part OF
the people has been augmented by a
rather general wave of sentiment
throughout the country that govern
mental activities should be curbed and
governmental expenditures reduced be-
cause the burden of taxation is grad
ually becoming intolerable. This senti-
ment." he said, has grown to such
an extent that almost anything that
is done is opposed by reason OF a
charge that Government should not
compete with private industry"
Explaining that the Treasury was
handling purely governmental building
activity" only, the speaker said: I DO
not believe that the Supervising Archi-
tect's Office is competing with private
architects"
MAJ. f1edtQ QeIlltu IIlc CIldl &c Iiidt
the designs turned out by the Govern
ment did not compare favorably with
those turned out by private architects.
THE argument that our Office Is not
| familiar with local habits, and customs,
and materials. and climate does not
hold water, although there have un-
doubtedly been mistakes made by our
office just as they are made in all pri-
vate architects offices. And the advan-.
| tage to local material men because OF
! the employment of local architects has
been completely dissipated in the re-
suits of the present building program.
My days are filled with complaints from
local producers of materials that the
local architect we have employed Is not
specifying the right material. and some
| of the biggest battles We have fought
| have been with local architects to en-
deavor to induce them to be reasonable
about the local material situation.
! Opposes Measures.
$50 altogether in the light Of cur
actual experience. the many advantages
| claimed by the advocates of the various
bills which have been introduced in this
Congress completely disappear.
| 'I cannot close without telling you
how very deeply the department appre-
ciates the perfectly splendid work you
men are doing. You have been un-
selfish and untiring. The results are
appearing in all parts of the country.
| 1 think this period will be an outstand-
| ing one in the history Of the Supervls-
! ing Architects Office, and I believe the
record will be one to which we can
always point with pride and satisfac-
ton. I know that personally the re-
sponse that you have given to every call
made upon you has filled me with pride,
and I know that this same feeling is
shared by the other officials of the
| Treasury Department. You are doing a
fine job, with a fine spirit, and the
recognition that you deserve will GER
tainly be forthcoming
Hines Praises Work.
Gen. Frank T. Hines, Administrator
of Veterans Affairs, praised the Treas
ury force for its work and explained
that the construction division of his
Office was turning out work at the
volume of about Sl,700,00 construction
a month. Gen. Hines saw great value
in a close association of the construc-
ton divisions of various parts OF the
Government machinery.
E. B. Morris, president of the Asso-
citation of Federal Architects and chair
man of the Banquet Committee, pre-
sided.
Guests of honor included Brig. Gen.
Louis H. Bash, chief of the construc-
ton division, Office Of quartermaster
general; Admiral A. L. Parons, chief
Of the Bureau of Yards and Docks; Gen.
Hines, Col. George E. Ijams. assistant
administrator of the Veterans Admins
tration; Mr.. Baldwin and James A.
Wetmore, acting supervising architecht.
Mai. Heath was given the honorary
title of architect" and the presiding
4 oNarer nreeontod m him O haOdsonelv