National Republican., 1884-04-03
THE NEW LIBRARY BUILDING.
Property-Owners for Decisive Action
ON the Pending Bill.
To ihe Ediinr.

To The Editor.
The senate bill for the erection of build
ing for the congressional library on some Of
the squares east of the capitol comes up by
special assignment on tho third instant, and,
although the vote in the senate was almost
unanimous in its favor and more than two
thirds of the members of the house voted
to fix day for tho consideration of
this bill, there have been suggestions
made which would indicate that some
outside combination was seeking to prejudice
and mislead the members in order to secure
delay until this ouside combination could
ascertain whether there was anything In the
BILL" as they term it, The frequent intima-
tions that some eastern or New England
syndicate held property in the squares east
of tho capitol park, which they which to load
upon tho government is evidently intended
to create such prejudice against the measure
that no action will be taken at the present
session.
From careful inquiry it has been ascertained
that mono of the property holders in the
squares fronting the Capitol park have ap-
preached either the committee or congress to
advocate the passage of the bill; but, on tho
contrary, quite number of the largest prop
erty holders in these squares have prepared
preamble and resolution, which they intend
to ask congress to pass If they do not decide
to take the grounds at the present session.
The following is the text of the resolution
referred to:
Whereas II has been alleged that the owners Of
land between south b and north b and First and
Second streets east of the capitol grounds are
desirous that this property should be taken by
congress for public use; and
Whereas II large number of the property owners
In these squares most emphatiCally deny that they
anxious to part with their property. but on the
contrary assert that they only desire that congress
shall definitely settle the question as to whether
the pOvprnment Ia likely To insist uDOu extending
the Capitol park further eastward than Firststreet
east: therefore,
const ructon of a building for the congressional
library upon squares east of the CAPITOL be re-
committed to the library committee with instpnc,
resolution to the senate and house OF representa-
tives giving assurances to these property owners
that 1t Is not the present purpose of congress to ex
tend the Capitol park further eastward.
A careful examination as to the ownership
of the squares fronting the East park shows
that the National Life Insurance company.
of Chicago is the largest owner. This COM
pany held a deed Of trust upon what is known
as the Carroll row amounting to some $780,
900, which was foreclosed several years since
by L. A. Rollins, former president the COM
pany, and William L. Chandler, former at
torney for this company, VINO were named as
trustees in the trust deed. The foreclosure
effected by these gentlemen for and in be-
half of the insurance company has been mis-
represented, ana the statenenD inaue tnhU
they wero owners in this property, whereas
neither of them have not now or ever havehad
any interest whatever in any property in
these squares.
Tho next largest owners are Justice Field,
Gen. Dunn, Mr.. Dodge Mr. Lincoln, and
Mrs. b. b. French, none of whom have
shown any anxiety to dispose of their pleasant
homes, but in fact most of them would pre-
fer not to have their property taken. although
it is understood that they do not stand in the
way of any action that congress may take,
and only ask that unless they are prepared
to take the property now that congress will
pass the resolution above quoted.