ELECTRICAL PROTECTION TO VAULTS AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
THE ACTING SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY,
A DRAFT OF SUGGESTED LEGISLATION FOR ELECTRICAL PROTECTION TO VAULTS AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1916.
DECEMBER 29, 1914.-Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to
TREASURY Department,
Washington, December 22, 1914.
The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
SIR: The estimate for the appropriation under the control of the Supervising Architect for the fiscal year 1916, known as "Mechanical equipment," as submitted is available for central electric burglaralarm devices. The statement accompanying this estimate shows that, for the fiscal year 1916, it is contemplated to expend, out of the total of the appropriation, the sum of $86,525 for this purpose.
Formerly there existed an annual appropriation, known as "Electrical protection to vaults," which was available for a specific number of buildings. In connection with the estimates for the fiscal year 1915, the department requested that this appropriation, after a few months, be discontinued and the authority to install central electric burglar-alarm devices be included in the appropriation for mechanical equipment. The department believed that it would be in the interest of economy and good administration to have this matter under its control, rather than be dependent largely upon a rented service. Congress, however, did not agree with the department. The result was that the separate appropriation for "Electrical protection to vaults, public buildings" was eliminated, and the authority asked for