the Government. That was used by the courts at the time that the new building was being built-the United States courts-and when we finished the Baltimore building and the courts moved out the city was just about ready to build a new city hall, and they asked the privilege of using that old court-house and constructing on the grounds adjacent to it an addition, to occupy for their other offices, which was done, and these two buildings are now occupied by the tenants of the custom-house that were taken out of the custom-house while the new custom-house was being built. As soon as they can move into their building the other building will be torn down. When this building was finished there was $497,000 left unexpended. The reports of the office show that it was intended to finish the approaches of the building when these other buildings were removed. That data is on file there. That was the original intention. That is why that $500,000 was left. We never had occasion to use it, and in consequence never asked an appropriation for it. Mr. TAYLOR. How does that stand now-as an unexpended balance? Mr. J. K. TAYLOR. An unappropriated balance. Mr. TAYLOR. Do you remember the date of the original law? Mr. TAYLOR. Does the law authorize the retention of that fund? Mr. J. K. TAYLOR. By the general law it stands for the building until it is turned in, or it has to be appropriated before it can be turned in. Mr. TAYLOR. I notice this bill provides that it shall be paid out of the Treasury unless otherwise appropriated. Do you not think that this bill ought to read that it should be paid out of the unexpended balance in the Treasury? The CHAIRMAN. There is no unexpended balance. Mr. TAYLOR. He says there is. Mr. J. K. TAYLOR. I imagine that that would read just as the rest of it, Mr. Tawney. For instance, Allentown is for the continuation of a building under the present limit, so much money. The CHAIRMAN. For the information of the committee I will read a letter which I have here from the Secretary of the Treasury, and incorporate it in the hearings as a part of Mr. Taylor's statement. [Reads:] TREASURY DEPARTMENT, The CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, House of Representatives. SIR: In response to the request contained in your communication of the 26th instant for a report upon bill H. R. 12989, "For the erection of an addition to the post-office in the city of Baltimore, Maryland," this Department has the honor to advise you that in its opinion there is an urgent need for the enlargement of said building for the proper transaction of the public business. It is estimated that an extension of the first floor of said building, having approximately 7,000 square feet of area, and for the necessary changes and alterations in the present building incident to such extension and including provision for suitable approaches, etc., can be made within the limit of cost provided therefor in the bill above referred to. In reference to your further inquiry as to whether in the opinion of this Department the limit of cost of the building in question has been appropriated in full, you are advised that it is apparent from an examination of the records of this Department that appropriations to the amount of such limit of cost have not been made. The building was completed and occupied in March, 1890, and the following statement taken from the annual report of the Supervising Architect for the year 1891 shows that at the time of the completion of the building it was recognized that the extension of the building at some time subsequent thereto was in contemplation. I quote from said report, as follows: "An examination of the various acts of Congress authorizing the acquisition of site and the erection of the post-office, court-house, etc., building, with the accounts of the expenditures thereunder and the appropriation asked in the estimates, shows the fact that the work on the building and the work to be done on the approaches to the building, that the building has been entirely completed and the work on approaches will be completed largely within the limit of cost, and that $447,890.62 of the limit of cost prescribed by acts of Congress approved June 18, 1879, March 5, 1880, and March 3, 1881, remains to the credit of the limit of cost. "Congress will not be asked to appropriate all of the amount fixed as the limit of cost of the site and building by the acts above specified, unless it should be decided at a future time that the needs of the public service render it necessary to erect an extension to the new building after the old building shall have been sold and removed, which will receive consideration at the proper time.” Respectfully, L. M. SHAW, Secretary. Have you gone into the matter of the necessity of this extension at this time. Mr. Taylor? Mr. J. K. TAYLOR. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. In your judgment do you say it is necessary? Mr. J. K. TAYLOR. Absolutely necessary for the proper conduct of the post-office business over there. The CHAIRMAN. Will you prepare and submit the language for the proper appropriation for the purpose as you intend? Mr. J. K. TAYLOR. I would simply say, "For the continuation of the work under the present limit," just the same as at Allentown here. The CHAIRMAN. "For the continuation of the work under the present limit of cost?" Mr. J. K. TAYLOR. Yes, sir; or rather let it be this way: Post-office and court-house, Baltimore, Maryland: For the continuation, exten sion, enlargement of, and necessary changes in the post-office and court-house building in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, within the limit of cost heretofore fixed by Congress, $150,000. The CHAIRMAN. Under that you would have the authority to go on and build under the present conditions? Mr. J. K. TAYLOR. Yes, sir. Mr. TAYLOR. So that language could be stricken out in the bill without any additional words? Mr. J. K. TAYLOR. I think so. Mr. SMITH. Which way is this extension to run, as you understand? Mr. SMITH. The east frontage of this building is completed? Mr. SMITH. With marble or granite, or something of that kind on the front? Mr. J. K. TAYLOR. Yes; I think it is a granite building. Mr. J. K. TAYLOR. Yes. Mr. SMITH. Do I understand that your understanding of the law is that if an authorization be given to build a building to cost $1,000.000, and after the completed building is erected with the usual outside walls, without any further legislation, we have the right to appropriate money to build a distinct addition to that building? Mr. J. K. TAYLOR. So long as you have not gone outside the limit. The CHAIRMAN. Do you know of any instance where that has been done? Mr. J. K. TAYLOR. I never knew an instance of where there is any money left. [Laughter.] The CHAIRMAN. Except this one? Mr. J. K. TAYLOR. Yes; except this one. Mr. SMITH. It looked to me very doubtful whether a Chairman of the Committee of the Whole would rule it to be in order to make such an appropriation, if the building is in effect completed. Mr. J. K. TAYLOR. The existing building is not complete, and by the records and reports of the office it is shown that it is not complete, and that it was intended to complete it later. That portion of it that is occupied is completed. Mr. SMITH. You would not have put a front on the east side if you had thought of completing it later? Or would you have considered it completed when you put the outside finish clear around? Mr. J. K. TAYLOR. When they completed that portion I do not imagine they had any idea of putting an addition there. They intended to put the approaches there. Mr. SMITH. The appropriation here without the authority is valid unless it is completed: but, as a question of the rules of the House, I would say it was doubtful, if the authorization is made not to exceed $1,000,000, because the authorization is not to cost the million, but not to exceed a million. The building is completed, say for twenty years, and there is a finished building all around. I doubt whether it would not be deemed a new structure to tear off the outside of the building and extend it. The CHAIRMAN. Will this extension necessitate the removal of the outside? Mr. J. K. TAYLOR. In a small portion of it; one story in the central portion will be all. The CHAIRMAN. Do the post officials in Baltimore occupy any other rooms than those in the present.building? Mr. J. K. TAYLOR. We have got only one set of rented quarters, I believe, occupied by the Light-House Board. It is not very much, $1.000; two or three officers I think. Then there are people from the custom-house. The CHAIRMAN. Is it because the work is congested in the present building and crowded? Mr. J. K. TAYLOR. Yes, sir. It is absolutely necessary to have more room for the main building. The CHAIRMAN. Absolutely necessary to have more room for the proper conduct of the post-office business of the United States? Mr. J. K. TAYLOR. Yes, sir. They are so congested that they can hardly move around, and they have taken a portion upstairs needed by the other officials. The CHAIRMAN. Is the court held in that building, too? Mr. J. K. TAYLOR. Yes; the court and the internal-revenue offices are in the same building. The CHAIRMAN. Do you know how many employees there are occupying that building? Mr. J. K. TAYLOR. No, sir: I do not. Mr. SULLIVAN. Where has this money been all these years? Mr. SMITH. It is an authorization by the statute? POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE FIRST ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL, Hon. F. C. WACHTER, SIR: I beg to inform you that, in accordance with your request, a representative of the Department was recently detailed to visit Baltimore, Md., for the purpose of investigating the necessity of securing additional floor space for the post-office at that place, and that a report from him has just been received stating that the office is greatly congested, and recommending that immediate action be taken to provide at least 7.000 additional square feet of floor space. This Department concurs in the recommendation of its representative, and the hope is expressed that Congress may see fit to make provision for an adequate enlargement of that part of the Federal building at Baltimore occupied by the post-office. DEAR SIR: With reference to your letter of the 9th instant. in regard to an addition to the post-office building at Baltimore, Md., the files of the Department did not contain the information you desired. and therefore the postmaster at Baltimore was requested, on the 12th instant, to make a full report concerning the necessity for additional floor space. His letter, which explains the situation fully, was received yesterday, and a copy is inclosed herewith. SIR: In compliance with the directions of your communication of the 12th instant. I have the honor to advise you that the floor space occupied by each division of the post-office at Baltimore, Md., is as follows: These areas show actual floor space in each instance, without deduction for fixtures, which in the mailing and city divisions occupy 7,044 square feet. The executive division, including the cashier's department, is upon the second floor of the building and is not included in the above, nor are the two rooms occupied by the assistant postmaster and superintendent of city division, respectively. The gross receipts of the office for year ending June 30, 1896, were An increase in the latter above the former of $871, 802. 33 1,584, 138. 22 712, 335. 89 The clerical force was at the earlier date 200 and at the latter date 338, and the number of letter carriers 287 and 357, respectively. It is beyond question that this office is in urgent need of increased space in which efficiently to discharge the greatly increased business which reaches it as compared with that transacted fifteen years ago, when it was moved to the building it now occupies. The arrangement of the post-office building is such that the working floor, intended for the accommodation of the city and mailing divisions, is not susceptible of enlargement within the walls of the present structure. Of its net area of 11,742 square feet, 7,044 square feet are occupied by the furniture, leaving but 4,698 square feet for the use of the combined forces of the two divisions, numbering at times as many as 225 men simultaneously at work in this circumscribed space, considerable portions of which are also permanently occupied by the box department and general delivery. It is believed that when the new custom-house in this city shall be completed, perhaps by the summer of 1907, additional space in the post-office building will become available for post-office use; but, while this will relieve some of the smaller divisions and materially assist the proper discharge of business in them, it will in nowise increase the size of the working floor, nor afford any greater space for the labors of the mailing and city divisions. The enormous increase in the bulk of mail handled in more recent years requires for its speedy and accurate dispatch or distribution, as the case may be, abundant space for the installation of the necessary furniture and for the passing of trucks and men. This is sought to be accomplished by securing an appropriation whereby an addition to the building might be erected, enlarging this working floor only, no effort being made to secure increased accommodations in any other portion of the building or for any division of the office. The completion of the new custom-house will, it is understood, be followed by the removal of buildings upon the land already owned by the Government and immediately adjoining the eastern front of the post-office building. Upon the lot so vacated the proposed addition might readily be placed, and the present is deemed an appropriate time to make efforts to secure necessary action by the Congress to meet not only an existing necessity, but a need which will constantly become more imperative. Very respectfully, W. HALL HARRIS, Postmaster. BALTIMORE, MD.-RENTAL OF TEMPORARY QUARTERS. The CHAIRMAN. The next item on page 2 is for the rental of temporary quarters. Mr. J. K. TAYLOR. That is the Light-House Board. That formerly was in the custom-house and will return to it when the custom-house is finished. We had to rent quarters for a time. Mr. SMITH. You got enough last year for it? Mr. J. K. TAYLOR. I think we had an amount left over in some way or other that we could run on, and so we did not ask for anything last year. Mr. SMITH. This would not be a continuing appropriation? Mr. J. K. TAYLOR. There was a rental appropriation made for some previous year that worked in there The CHAIRMAN. Made in 1905, or made in 1904 for the fiscal year 1905, $1,850. |