Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-04-05

Commissioners Webb and Wheatley
Before the House Committee on Pub.
lie Buildings.

THEY SET FORTH IN STRONG TERMS THE NECES-
sITY FOR THE ERECTION OF A BUILDING FOR
USE OF THE MUNICIPAL GovERNMENT-THE
QUESTION OF SITE, ETC.
Commissioners Webb and Wheatley told the
House committee on public buildings and
grounds to-day of the bad condition of the
building rented for the occupancy of the Dis
trict government office, and of the need of a
new District government building.
Mr.. Webb said that the necessity for a build
ing could be better understood if the committee
should visit the buildings now occupied. The
necessity is apparent. He said the Commits
sioners left the option in bill to select reser-
walton as the site for the building matter
of economy. The bill proposing the municipal
building was drawn up according to the law reg
ulating the erection OF school and other buildings
and the United States was to pay half and the
District half. He referred to the advance by
Congress tor the sewerage system, saying that
that money had been paid back with interest,
and that there was lett about $125 900 of Dis
trict funds that would be available at once to
pay upon the Districts share of the cost OF the
municipal building; andif they were permitted
to sell certain property-that strip OF land in
front of the Center market which is estimated
to be worth about $40 "a foot-the District could
pay its share OF the cost OF the building. The
necessity for the building was most urgent;
they needed the building and would not in
cumber the committee with any proposition as
to site.
THE HALF AND HALF ARRANGEMENT.
Mr.. Reese asked what the District was in
arrears growing out OF the present arrangements
of half and half
Mr.. Webb replied by stating the amount of
the public debt OF the District, the interest on
which had been secured by the government,
but which had always been promptly paid by
the District, but said that the District was not
in arrears under the present system OF sharing
half and half, more than enough having been
raised by the District each year to pay their
share.
THE PROPOSITION TO COMBINE THE POST OFFICE
AND DISTRICT BUILDING.
Mr.. Wade asked what Mr. Webb thought of
the proposition to combine the city post office
building and the building for the District gov
eminent uses.
MrWebb replied that the need for the District
building was great that he would not like TO
see its chances jeoparGized by the differences as
to the site for the city post office, but that if
they could get the buildings in combination the
District government would be made very COM
Portable. He said that the building proposed
for District government uses would cost about
100000 or S350,00O, without the site; that
the committee could choose between taking a
reservation or purchasing site, but that the
people OF the city were opposed to the use of
Reservations for public buildings.
OCCUPATION OF RESERVATIONS NOT ADVISABLE.
Some members of the committee said that
they thought it best not to occupy reservations,
but that the people might drive them to do SO
by raising the prices of their property as soon as
the government suggested its purchase.
THE MARKET RESERVATION.
Mr. Webb called attention to the Market
Space reservation, saying that it might be sold
it necessary.
But the sense of the committee was that
this would not be advisable.
Something was said by members of the COM
mittee about using the reservation between 9th
and 7th, about X street, if they were driven
from the purchase of a site by the high prices.
The committee In the general, and desultory
discussion dropped into, conceded the necessity
for municipal building, several of them hav-
ing visited that occupied by the District gov
ernment
Mr. Reese said he had been on the committee
several years, and that they had tried earnestly
to give the city post office tit for occupancy.
and that they were very earnest in their desire
building.
Mr.. Webb said that the District was paying
very large rents for buildings unfit tor Occn-
pancy, and read from the Commissioners re-
port upon the condition OF the building, show
Ing that 1t was infested with vermin, and unit
for occupancy or as a repository for files
COMMISSIONERS wHEATLEY.
Mr.Wheatley simply in.iorssd what Mr.Webb
had said. and asked that they come and see the
Commissioners quarters for themselves.
The COMMITTEES seemed to agree with what
was said by the Commissioners, and showed q
deposition to act promptly.
Mr.. EntWtsle, inspector OF buildings, was
directed to bring to the committee on Friday
the plans he has drawn showing the room
needed for the o01cea Of the District govern
ment