Evening star., 1932-01-09
ARCHITECTS BACK
i. S. BUILDING BILL
Measure Would Limit Work
of Treasury Department
to Supervision.

The American Institute Of Architects
with the support Of the Nations build
ing industry, will seek the enactment
Of Congress legislation to check what Is
described as "the rapid growth of gov
ernmental bureaucracy" It is announced
by Louis La Beaume Of st. Louis, chair
man OF the institutes Committee on
Public Works.
THE Government Of the United
States" Mr.. La Beaume declared, lis
no more qualified to design our build
ings than to paint our pictures or write
our books"
The institute asks that the designing
of public buildings be entrusted to the
Nations ablest architects, and that the
activity of the ofice Of the supervising
architect Of the Treasury Department
be limited to supervision. Under this
plan, Mr.. La Beaume pointed out, the
supervising architect would become such
In fact as we'll as in name.
Savings Contemplated.
Savings in the Federal building bud
get and greater vitality of architectural
design would also result, according TO
embodied their proposed reforms in a
bill introduced in the House by Rep
resentative Robert A. Green Of Florida,
which has been referred to the Com
mittee on Public Buildings and Grounds
The American Institute of Architects,
acting in collaboration with all OF the
major factors OF the building industry,
is sponsoring legislation designed to de-
centraliZe the office Of the supervising
architect of the Treasury" said Mr.. La
Beaume, following a meeting OF the
Committee on Public Works at the
Architectural League in New York City
"A bill, providing for the employment
of architects and engineers outside OF
the Treasury Department, and resident
in the different sections Of the country
where Federal buildings are to be erect
ed, has been introduced in Congress.
Better Results Foreseen.
THE purpose of this bill is to bring
to the service of the Government the
ablest professional ability in the Nation
The country is entitled to these serv-
ices, and the employment OF skilled
architects and engineers outside OF the
Federal bureau will inevitably result In
the creation OF more vital architecture
eral buildings are to be erected.
1T cannot be denied that to restrict
the designing of our Federal buildings
to single department, no matter how
efficient, must inevitably narrow and
stereotype the expression Of our archi-
tectural ideals Moreover, we share the
belief of a large body Of public opinion
that the rapid growth Of governmental
bureaucracy which we have witnessed
during the past few years should be
checked.
I'VE oppose the further encroach-
ment of the Government into the field
of private initiative. The Government
of the United States Is no more quail
fed to design our buildings than to
paint our pictures or write our books.
Would Protect U. S. Interest.
This bill would leave the once Of
the Supervising Architect Of the Treas
ury to function solely as a supervis-
ing bureau, guarding the interests OF
the Government in all the practical
necessities of its building operations
and retaining its control IN regard to
the maintenance, alterations, repair
and supervision of all public buildings.
I'm any emergency such IS this,
speed as we'll as efficiency must result
from the prompt ALLEGATION Of various
projects to architects resident in the
general sections in which public build
ings are to be built.
Moreover, the employment of archi-
tects outside the Treasury Department
must bring to the service Of the Gov
ernment the abilities of men familiar
not only with local conditions and Gus
toms, with climatic factors tnfiuenc-
ing design and with regional methods
Of construction, but Of men thoroughly
conversant with the use Of appropriate
and economical materials.
Present Act to Lapse.
Thus, the practical results of the
passage of this bill would be to insure
not only vitality of design truly reflect
ing our National genius, but a more
diverse use of our National resources
and a distinct saving in our building
budget.
THE validity Of these arguments has
been recognized by the ONCE Of the
Supervising Architect of the Treasury
in the contracts already made with
architects outside the department.
These employments have been made
under a permissive clause in the Keyes-
Elliott appropriation bills, under which
the Federal building program Of the
Treasury Department Is going forward.
When these appropriations are ex-
hausted, the discretionary power grant
ed the Secretary of the Treasury for
the employment Of outside architects
will lapse 1t thus becomes important
for the entire building industry and
the taxpayers to secure the passage OF