Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-21

whas IL said BY Members Of the Library
COmmission and Others.
srorPAGE OF THE WORK WILL ENTAIL HEAVY Loss TO
THE GovERNnENT-rHB SENATE NOT Likely 10
AGREE TO The HOUSE RESOLUTION.
The statement made by members of the House
Of Representatives In the debate ON the library
building appropriation the other day that the
structure would cost eight or ten million dollars
was passed upon estimates OF Secretary Villas
Chairman OF the library commission, and Mr..
Green, superintendent OF construction. They were
examined by Mr.. Holman's committee. Secretary
Villas said that TO complete the building would
cost perhaps SIC, 600 900, and MI. Green made an
estimate OF about s., GOO 600, Secretary Villas said
he felt 1t 10 be his duty to state that the building
would cost upward of $4,000 900. He recon-
mended that the sum OF g. OO0, 900 be appropriated
TO complete that portion OF the Library under con-
tract. which, he said, would be about one-fourth
In the debate In the House upon the original
Senate Dill 70 authorize the purchase Of site, &C.,
IL was stated that the building would cost e, AGO.
0O0, and that the cases for books and inside furn-
ture would run 1t up to about 5000, 600 These
statements were not based upon any regular esti-
Who made the Statement as ae1 Mem Ses OF he
Library Commission made no such estimate, for
they knew that building to be 20 per cent
and TO be constructed OF the best material and
in the best manner, could not be built for any
Sucn money. AS matter OF fact, no special at
tention Yves given to the probable cost Of the
building. The friends OF the measure were strug-
Cling 70 obtain library building that would be
credit 70 the national capital and did not regard
IL as necessary to submit any estimate
Mr.. Clark, architect of the Capitol and q men,
per OF the library commission, says that the plan
OF the structure cannot be changed without ma
terlal loss TO the Government He says that the
granite and some other material contracted for
can ca De used In any building that may be
Will have to be worked over at
considerable loss. The contract for laying the
concrete foundation for the entire building has
oeen Iet ana Mr.. Clark says that II 1t IS annulled
Oh course the contractor must be compensated
that II might not be necessary to pay the full
amount OF the contract but whatever1s paid will
be dead loss
Mr.: Clark has not made any statement to the
enecL mat change OF plan need not involve loss,
ana the member Of the House who so quoted him
VIII, at the first opportunity, make correction
senator voorhees,, who has been chairman OF
the library, and to whose efforts the purchase Of
sue ana beginning or structure are largely due,
says the Senate Will never assent to a stoppage OF
the WORK. He says that, even should the building
cost seven or eight million dollars, the money
could not be more advantageously invested Sena-
tor PADDOCK also says the Senae will not consent
10 the House proposition and Senator Morrill,, who
mas been from the first an able and constant friend
OF the horary, Will exert all his influence To pre-
vent cessation OF the work and change of plan.
AT meeting OF the Library Commission several
months ago the question OF appropriations for the
building was discussed Secretary Villas re-
Congress in entire frankness; that 1t
would cost at least 100000 to complete the
building and he would say SO; that he did not
want to be held responsible for any msrepresenta-
tlon, ana II he was to be entrusted with the dis
bursement OF a large sum he wanted Congress to
know just what sum would be required