The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-12
RESULT OF A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS-.
How Work on Some Important Public
Buildings Is Delayed.

WASHINGTON, Oct 1.-THE failure of Con
gress to pass the several bills increasing the
limit of appropriations for certain public build
ings has caused great deal Of embarrassment
in the Office of the supervising architect The
amount available for building the Brooklyn post
Office and custom house is entirely inadequate
for the erection of building such as is needed.
1t was expected that Congress would make ad-
ditional appropriations last session, but as that
was not done, plans can be prepared under
the recent ruling of acting Secretary Coon, un-
til it is known just how much money may be ex-
pected For building at Pittsburg $3.50, 900
was authorized to be expended, and Architect
Hill prepared plans for a building to cost that
But the plans did not suit the people of that
smoky city, and the Chamber of Commerce con.
demned Mr.. Hills plans, declaring the proposed
building was entirely inadequate. Mr. Hopkins,
Pittsburgs representative in Congress, intro
duced a bill last session to double the amount.
He was chairman of the public buildings COM
mittee and succeeded in securing a favorable
report on his bill. 1t was passed in committee
of the whole, but, in common with all other pub
lie building bills it was never reported to the
House for final passage. Mr.. Hopkins, however,
was so that it would become law that he
induced Mr.. Bell. the present supervising archi-
tect, to cease work until the measure had been
acted upon. Work was stopped and has not
been resumed. Mr. Bell says he does not like
to proceed with work under the original designs
when Congress may within few months author
ize a building to cost twice as much as the
amount now available.
The condition of the Detroit building is SINH
lar in many respects to that of Pittsburg. Five
hundred thousand dollars for new structure
for posto1ice and custom house was allowed by
the Forty seventh Congress. A site was selected,
plans prepared, and work on
the basement begun. With the advent of the
Forty ghth Congress, however, came petitions
signed by thousands of the citizens of Detroit,
urging the Secretary of the Treasury to sell the
chosen site, and select one more available. Mr..
Maybury, the representative from Detroit, in
troduced r bill in the House, and Senator Palm
er a similar one in the Senate, increasing the
appropriation to 5000, 900, and instructing the
Secretary of the Treasury to inquire into the ad-
visibility of changing the location of the build
ing Senator Palmer's bill went through the
Senate. but tie House bill was never reported
from the committee of the whole. The pressure
brought to bear upon Secretary Folger was so
great, and the desires of the people of Detroit
seemed so plain, that he was induced to order a
suspension of operations until Congress had
made its decision. The result is that Detroit,
like Pittsburg, has hole in the ground on the
spot where the postoffce should be, and the
work of the supervising architects Office is re-
tarded by the non action on these bills There
are several other buildings delayed for similar
reasons. When the city secures dollar from
the general government, the populace will never
rest contented until double the amount is given
than