Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-07
Col. Hains 70 Decide.

WORK ON THE NEW LIBRARY BUILDING 10 N vIooR-
OUSLY PROSECUTED.
The one question which has delayed work upon
the Congressional Library building il now In q
lair way OF early solution. As has been explained
In The STAR, the delay was caused by q refusal OF
Architect Smithmeyerto accept the cement offered
by the contractors for the concrete foundation.
Inc specifications called TOR cement OF q high
quality was needed for the purposes OF the founda-
ton. The samples offered by the contractors were
pronounced al right, but the supplies sent to 60
request OF the Library commission the Secretary
OF War has directed Col Hams to make tests Of
the cement offered by the contractors, and the re-
port OF COL Halns Is TO be accepted as nnal II he
shall decide that the cement II OF quality sum-
Client Tor the purpose wanted then IL will be &C
On me sss he decides sns
arrangements will be made to procure cement Of
Tns grade In any event i is INTENDED to
with the earliest spring weather.
TO EXERCISE AUTHORITY.
Secretary Villas, who IS now chairman OF the
commission, has expressed himself as DESTROYS of
having the work 60 forward with all the expedi.
ton practicable. He says the existing law con.
fers all the power and authority necessary upon
the work as 1t ought to be done they should abdi.
cate and let others take their placea There is
reason 10 believe that the coming season will de-
Washington, who have for so many years anx-
iously watched the progress OF the movement FOR
suitable library building, win find reason, ere
those In charge Of the enterprise.
NO FRICTION.
A STAR reporter is authorized to state that there
Is absolutely no truth In the rumOr OF
disagreement between Secretary Villas
and Mr. smlthmeyer, architect of the
Du Mr. te
Lamar as chairman, everything Is pro
crossing smoothly: There is no fr1ctlon.
understanding that unless the cement offered snail
come up to the standard required in the contract,
as demonstrated by tests to be made under
contract will be annulled at once and steps
taken for the immediate procurement OF material
OF the grade wanted. 1t Is the determination OF
the commission to have the work commenced at
the earliest practical day and pushed forward
Win all possible expedition.
Extra Pay for Government Clerks.
COMMUNICATIONS PROM TIE SURGEON GENERAL RE-
COMMENCING BACK PAY.
Acting Secretary OF War Benet to-day trans
mitted to the Senate a communication from
Surgeon-General Moore accompanied by pc
titiOns from clerks OF the records and
once for compensation for extra WorS. The sMrs
geonGeneral states that in order to catch up with
pension business the clerks In 1867, by order OF
work from to pm. daily. They rendered this
extra work for nineteen days and for
twenty-eight days prior thereto many OF the
clerks mad voluntarily performed extra service.
While the Government he says, may require
extra work without extra pay, he says the ser
vices rendered were valuable, and, as q matter OF
basis OF the rate customary in the War Depart
ment for extra service, be allowed.
NRwsBoY's MIsFoRTUNE.-Benson Hawkins a
coored newsboy, aged thirteen years old while
selling papers this morning, jumped from car on
tne Columbia street railroad, near the corner of
Sth and Streets and broke his left leg above the
Knee. he was removed to Freedman's Hospital by
the police. He lives at No. g I'd street northeast,