Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-22
THE CITY POsT-OFFICE SITE.
Debate on the Dibble Bill I'm the
House Yesterday.

Debate on the Dibbfe Bill IN the
House Yesterday.
The OPPOSITION FAVOR BUILDING THE POST
OFFICE on JUDICIARY sQUARE-MEr By
VIGOROUS PROTEST AGAINST EScUMBERISG
THE REsERyATIoNs-A CLOSE VOTE.
Mr.. Dibble made an unsuccessful attempt
yesterday to pass the Washington city post
Office bill through the House under suspension
of the rules. The bill called up was that re-
ported from the House committee, known as
the Dibble bill, which appropriates $4,000
for the purchase of the square west of Judi
ciary square, occupied in part by the police
headquarters, Police Court, &c.
After Mr.. Dibble had explained the purpose
of the bill, Mr.. Kigore rose to oppose it. II
argue" he said, ''that this city ought to have
first class building for post-ofice purposes,
and that it ought to be located on a desirable
site. but cannot conceive that it is the duty
of the government to pay $3.50. 900 for the block
named in this bill upon which to erect such
building, while the government owns within
the limits of the city plenty of ground which
can be used for such purposes, affording more
eligible sites in every respect for post-office
building than the block mentioned. These
reservations owned by the city would cost
and it would be much better that some one of
the numerous reservations belonging to the
government should be used for post-ofice pur-
poses. and let the S430.000 which it is proposed
TO expend in purchasing the site, with such
additional amount may be necessary be used
for the erection of tirst-class public building.
IN FAVOR OF A COMMISSION To SELECT A SITE.
He said further that it was not practical
business proposition before the House. The
block was covered with buildings that made
mp fully one-half of its cost, and these build
ings would be of no value for the purposes of
the post-Ofiice building. Half the value of the
property would be, he thought destroyed by
tearing down these buildings He did not
think a business man would do that sort of
thing. He thought 1t might be better to APP
point a commission to select and purchase a
site
Mr.. Cannon asked if Mr.. Kilgore would be
willing to appropriate half a million more
for the erection of city post-ofhce building in
Judiciary square.
Mr. Kilgore said he was perfectly willing to
do this. He thought that the bill should be
amended SO as TO provide for a committee to
investigate all scandals that might arise in con-
nectiOD with the building.
MR.. MIILIKES IN DEFENSE OF THE BILL
Mr.. Milliken spoke in defense of the bill
Mr.. Speaker he said, Il desire to say, in
the first place, that in the committee did not
vote in favor Of the propriety of making the
cause believed that more WAS asked for the
proposed site than it was worth, but because 1
believed that the post-office should be located
at place more convenient of access for the
people of the city, well those who are
here transiently, and who are of necessity re-
quired to transact business with the post-ofice
while they are here. There has been propo-
sitlOn before the committee public build
ings and grounds during the entire time that
have been a member of this House. coming
from the Senate. to purchase the block of
ground adjacent to the Post-Offce department.
The committee of the House has steadily re-
fused to adopt that proposition, because after
giving to the subject careful consideration we
are satisfied that the plat of land indicated,
when 1t shall be purchased by this Government
and the building erected. will not cost the people
of this country less than &c. COO 000 and because
of the fact that tWo-thirds or three-fOurths but
think at the extreme not more than two-thirds,
of the land can be purchased at private sale.
The remainder Of the site would have to be
condemned. and nobody knows what that prop
erty would cost the Government until after the
condemnation proceedings we're had
A VIGOROUS PROTEST AGAINST RUNNING THE
PUBLIC RESERVATIONS.
Now. my friend from Texas who has lust
spoken favors the taking of a reservation in
the city and placing the building upon it. Mr.
Speaker. we are now spending nearly $780, 900
annually in this city to pay for the rental of
private buildings for public purposes, and we
are III some instances paying as much as Ia
cent on the value of the buildings. while many
of them are old tumble-down structures. really
TT only for rats to live in. A great many new
buildings. If the government shall practice
economy or desires proper buildings for the
transaction of the public service. and where il
can be done well and economically, ought to
be built. and good many such buildings will
have To be built in the near future. or else we
must go on paying such rents as l have indi-
Gated. If you are to take public reservation for
the pOSt-OflPe site | why on tho
same ground argued by the gentleman from
Texas. You should not take other parts of the
public reservations for the other necessary
public buildings; and then. after YOU have
completed your work the city of Washington
will be left with hardly breathing place in it.
L. this great capital of great nation of 90 O0O-
600 people to-day, with the prospect of 100 O0O.-
600 in the near future, to be left without an
open spot. breathing place, for its inhabitants?
III so, why? Simply to practice little petty
economy. Why. Mr.. Speaker, you have no
park here now of any consequence. You have
only what may again call these little breath
ing places at the corners where the avenues
and the streets intersect each other, and shall
we to crafty the economical designs of certain
gentlemen
SHUT THEM UP TO SAVE FEW DOLLARS
necessary to purchase plats to erect outbuild-
ings upon? protest against it. 1 would not
put the proposed post-oftice on Judiciary
square because in the first place. would not
place, 1t is out Of the way from where the post
Office should be. Where is the wisdom of put
ting it there? For the purpose of saving a few
dollars a man might be willing to erect stable
in his front yard. and that of course would be a
saving Of money necessary to buy a suitable
plat for il IN the But the question is would
IL be good economy? IL certainly would not be
ornamental to have it there. And so believe
this great capital of the United States can
afford to buy lot of land in the right place
where the post-office ought to be and pay a
fair price for it. and it Ought to do it, and then
erect a pOst-Office here that shall be fit to
do the public business in a manner that will
not dishonor or discredit the nation. / have
said that did not vote for this in the COM
mlttee on Public buildings and grounds, but /
shall vote for the passage of the bill because 1t
viii throw the subject in conference. and then
between the Senate and the House conferees
i have no doubt that We viii finally succeed i'm
getting better plat at a lower price to build
the post-ofice upon than the one which is now
selected IN the measure bending before the
House. On that account shall vote for the
proposition"
Mr. RANDALL IN OPPOSITION TO THE BILL
Mr. Randall-Mr. Speaker. it seems to me
proper that the House should reflect before en-
tering upon an act which will commit this gov
eminent to the purchase of the plat PROMISED
by the committee on public buildings and
grounds for the erection OF the proposed most
ofhee building. The proposition before us il
TO buy for S43O.0O0 the lot due west across the