18 AGRICULTURAL APPEOPRIATIOlSr BILL, 1924. 



Mr. Rf:ESE. Practically. On the 1st of July last year by direction 

 of the Public Buildings Commission we gave up the building on F 

 Street occupied by the office of foreign seed and plant introduc- 

 tion, and moved them into quarters in the auditor's building owned 

 by the Government. It is quite possible that before the end of this 

 fiscal year or during the next fiscal year some other shifts of that 

 kind will be made. But we can not possibly tell in advance what will 

 happen along that line. 



Mr. Andersox. My recollection is that you were rather skeptical 

 last year about being able to get along with the appropriation you 

 had. 



Mr. BucHAXAx. They have increased the estimate. 



Mr. Reese. The appropriation last year was increased. 



Mr. BucpiAXAX. Increased over the estimate? 



Mr. Eeese. Increased over the estimate, because demands for in- 

 creased rents came after the estimates had left my hands. 



Mr. AxDERSOx. Did you make a new lease on that Forest Service 

 Building ? 



Mr. Eeese. Yes, sir. 



Mr. AxDERSOX. What was that made at? 



Mr. Reese. $35,000. 



Mr. AxDERsox. "What were you paying previously? 



Mr. Reese. $22,800. 



Mr. AxDERSox. xVnd this was included in j^our last year's appro- 

 priation — $6,000 motion-picture laboratory. Has that lease been 

 consummated ? 



Mr. Reese. The building is not yet finished : it is under construc- 

 tion now. We expect to have it finished in the course of the next 

 month. 



Mr. AxDERSox. Have you made a lease on it? 



Mr. Reese. We have made a contract to lease it as soon as it is 

 finished at $9,000 a year. 



Mr. AxDERSox. That is $3,000 more than you figured last year ? 



Mr. Reese. Yes. That is because of a change in the plan of the 

 building, an increase in size, and the impossibility of getting builders 

 to consider anvthing whatever, unless thev get a reasonable return 

 on the present high cost of building. 



RENT OF niTLUING FOK STATES UKI-ATIONS SKKVUK. 



Mr. AxDERSox. Then you had $4,000 rent of building for States 

 Relations Service. 



Mr. Reese. The lease on that large building at 220 Fourteenth 

 Street expired the 30th of last June, and the owner declined to 

 renew the lease unless ho got a little more monev. All these real- 

 estate men are putting up the plea that taxes have heavily increased, 

 and they are somewhat increased : and such of them as are carrying 

 loans on their buildings say they have had to renew them at higher 

 rates of interest than they had to pay when they made the original 

 loan. 



Mr. Andersox. Has this lease been made? 



Mr. Reese. Yes, sir. 



Ml-. AxDKifsox. At wlint rate? 



Mv. Reicse. At $24,000. 



