Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-02-22
The National LihrarY.

The SENATE VOTES FOR THE CAPITOL HILL SITE.
AT the evening session of the Senate yester-
day, On motion OF Mr.. Voorhees,, chairman Of
the select committee ON the subject, Senate
bill authorizing the construction OF a building
for the accommodation OF the Congressionat
Library, was taken up, when the report of th !,
Committee recommending Judiciary SQUARE
and the views OF tue minority (Mr. Morr.lD /
favor OF the eastern front OF the Capitol grouna5
as The site were read, as also the recommend =
tioDS OF the commission OF architects affirrn1no
the necessity for buildiag disconnected from
the Capitol. The respective merits of the com
petlLg Localities were presented In detail by Mr..
Morrill, and Mr.. voorhees,, the latter arguing
that While the Judiciary Square site belonged
10 lie government, and would therefore In
Vo!Ve 10 expenditure for It's purchase, the east
efh IIohl site, Oh the contrary. would cost at
least 81 O0o,Ot0 Mir. Thurman favored Judicl-
any square upon economical considerations
MI HoIIiN moved TO amend the bill by striking
out the GeS'gnation OF Judiciary Square. and in,
sertlLg IN lieu thereof as the site the SQUARES
nun tered from I26 to 131, inclusive, east OF the
Capitol, and between B street north and b
east. Agreed to-ayes, 80; noes I. Those who
voted In the negative were Messrs = ok Davis
OF West Virginia, Farley, Ingalls,, K aan. Ram
dolph and Thurman. Messrs. Davls OF Illinois,
Hamlin, Call, and Brown, who would have
voted aye. were paired with Messrs. voorhees,,
Mcdonald. Maxey, and Morgan In the mega
tive. Mr. Whyte, If present, would have voted
aye. Mr., Morrill, then Submitted An amend.
nent providing for the appropriation OF a sum
cent sum OF money to purchase the land and
regulating the mode OF condemnation Of the
pToperty,6 In reply to Mr.. Davis (W.Va) Mr..
Morrl stated that his estimate of the cost of the
purchase, based upon contracts signed by more
than half or The owners, was round million of
dollars for the whole six squares. Mr. Davis
moved proVlsO that the total cost OF the lands
descIieed shall not exceed 81. 900 600. Mr. Conk-
ing, In reply to an inquiry, was informed by
MI voorhees, that the Intention was TO obIIter.
ate East Capitol street.
furlner cebate followed, in which Mr. Voor-
Dees spoke or the enormous accumulation of
lour hundred thousand books In the crowded
alcoIes ana upon the floor OF the present library
BOOKS were lying there In boxes and piled up
Ia corners, ana the committee on the snniecG
ha0 strenuously labored to induce this CON
gfess TO provide the additional accommodations
that seemed TO be Indispensable. Mr. MORGAN
moved TO amend the amendment by adding a
proviso that the land and the structure thereon
snail not exceed In cost - dollars nor shall
the lano be paid for until the President has an
proved the price at which the land is purchased
and condemned as being just and reasonable
Vaue Thereon for the purposes IF q Library
building and grounds. After further discus
sion by Mr. COnkltng and Mr.. Voorhees,. a
motion by MIR. Ca land to recommit the bill was
les. division IT sult1ng II TO %. The bill and
amendments were then ordered printed and
the Senate (at 11:25) adjourned.