Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-06-20
THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING.
The Hoard of Trade Does not Want
the Work to Stop.

The Board of Trade held a special
meeting last night at the call of the
Board of Directors and of a number of
members. The special purpose for which
the call was issued was that of consider
ing the question of what recommends
ton had better be made to the Govern.
ment about the Federal building which
is now in process of erection. Last
Monday evening the Board of Direc-
tors met and discussed the document
which the Chamber of Commerce recently
prepared to send to the Supervising
Architect of the Treasury, setting forth
the reasons why the work should be
stopped and larger appropriation
should be granted. The statistics of this
document and the reasons which it sets
forth for the increase of the appropria-
ton were adopted by the Board of Direc-
tors as the main body of letter which
they prepared to address to Representa-
tive Vandever. The recommendation
that the work be stopped was, however,
thrown out and the following resolution
passed as a substitute:
Resolved, That the work OF the Los Angeles
Government building be continued to such
point where it may be necessary to stop in
order to provide for an extra appropriation 70
CON plete building that will be suitable in all
respects to IN eet the requirements of the various
offices contemplated to be put therein, and
which will, in our opinion, require twice the
ground floor room of the present contem plated
building, which should be three stories high.
ReSolued, That our representativ in Con-
gress be earnestly requested to use their utmost
endcavor to obtain all appropriation sufficient
for the completion of said building according
to the above resolution
1f kh4 ii 81 do
these resolutions, passed by the Direct
ors, were read, together with statement
of the reasons why they had been
the form of report from the Directors to
ors did not favor the cessation of work on
the building were: First, that the con-
tract had already been let, and the
Government would not be able to throw
it up without loss which it would
probably be unwilling to sustain.
Second, that plenty of ground could
be had adjoining the present site,
which could be used to double the
ground floor of the present structure, and
the whole could be increased to three
stories in height, giving ample accommo-
dation for AL needs.
This report, with the accompanying
resolutions, was read to the Board and a
vigorous discussion followed. A motion
was made to adopt the resolutions and
to indorse the action of the Board of Di
rectors. Hervey Lindley opposed the
motion. He believed that the only rea-
son why any one objected to having the
work stopped was that there was a gen.
eral fear lest the whole question of the
site should open up again. There WAS
no reason why this should cut any figure.
The Government could be left to settle
that matter as it saw fit. Everyone
agreed that the building was totally in
adequate to the needs Of the community.
The farther the work proceeded the
worse off the Government would be.
Ex-Mayor Workman wanted to see the
work go on, believing that if it was sus,
pended no one could tell bow long it
might be before Congress would see fit
to grant the extra appropriation.
| General John r. Matthews was op'
posed to the resolution asking that the
work be continued. He did not like to
see the question of site raised, for every
one was perfectly satisfied with the pres
ent location. Additional ground might
easily be secured in that same block.
But il the work was allowed to continue,
Congress would not be likely to increase
the appropriation.
L. N. Breed called attention to the fact
that the entrance steps of the proposed
edifice had been placed on one side for
the express purpose of allowing an ad-
dition to be made to the building in the
form of wing. With the building
doubled in size, the entrance
would fall conveniently in the middle.
He favored having the work continne.
J. B. Lankershim spoke very strongysin in
favor of the continuance of the work.
The contract had been let it would be q
: decidedly unbusiness-like performance
to throw it over, and one to which the
Government would not be likely to sub
init. Congress would not be ready tc
act for eight or nine months, and by
that time the building would not be
further than the second floor, so that al
additional story could be added, if the
/ appropriation was granted.
! Several other of the gentlemen presen
, expressed their opinion in the matter
the most of them favoring the plan o
3 going on with the work. The position
taken by the HERALD was frequently
D referred to with appreciation.
Hervey Lindley proposed substitute
a for the motion to adopt the report of thu
9 Board OF Directors, which was to adopt i
t all except that which related to continu
q ing the work, and to substitute claus,
!. to the opposite effect.
. There we're about thirty present {
a When Mr.. Lindley's resolution was pu
4 only four voted in its favor. The repor