Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-08
THE POST OFFICE BUILDING.
The COnferees Propose to Garry it up
Eight Stories Skyward.

Tho Conferees Propose to Carry it ND
Eight Stories Skyward.
PROVISIONS MADE FOR A BIG STRUCTURE TO 40
coMMoDATK OTHER BRANCHES OF THE GOVERN
mESr sERvIcE-oBJEoTIoSs IN THE SENATE
AGAINST ANY ARCHITECTURAL MoNsIRosITY
The conferees on the sundry civil bill have
arrived at an agreement. SO far as every item
in the bill is concerned, except the amend
uents which are involved directly or indi-
rectly in the irrigation survey. That much
debated subject, however, is not touched upon
in the report which was submitted to the Sem
ate yesterday afternoon.
TIE CITY POST OFFICE BUILDING.
OF more local importance than anything else
in the measure is the amendment affecting the
proposed city post Office building The origi-
nal proposition was the purchase OF the square
bounded by 18th and 18th and and ID streets
northwest and the erection thereon OF a build
ing which should not cost more than SSOO OOO
The cOnferees thought 1t would DO more
economical to appropriate more money and
get more building, so that the oyercrowded de-
partments could be relieved by occupying the
extra floors. The architect OF the Treasury
tod the conferees that q suitable post office
building could be put up on the proposed site
and the site purchased for the total sum of
81 400, 900. and he also stated that for 5000 900
additional per story he could add five stories to
the three in the original plans. With this in
formation before them the conferees reported
an appropriation Of II, SOC, 900 for the building
alone.
THE DISCUSSION.
Senator Hawley was the first to make objec-
ton; he thought such huge building in such
. situation-not parallel with Pennsylvania
svenue-would be at least unsightly.
Senator Morgan renewed his opposition to
the site by making inquiry as to how the water
was going to be kept out of the basement; to
architect had assured the conferees that mod
ern machinery was fully equal to the task of
keeping that basement dry.
TIE TERRIBLE EXAMPLE OF THE PENSION BUILD
ING.
Then Mr. Hawley said: "Let me call atten-
ton to the fact that there has been great deal
of criticism of the Pension building by reason
OF its height and enormity and lack of decora-
ton, and now you are about to put in of
the most prominent places on the avenue huge
brick building. hope they will break the ex-
terror lines and give 1t trlte of decoration. If
you are going to put up there an eight-story
building. with some twelve fifteen feet to
each story, counting floorage, that is going to
be a deformity, in view of the avenue, and it
will dwarf In the general prospect the other
buildings. whether it be the Smithsonian Insti-
tuition, the Agricultural Department and the
U
White House beyond, with the State Depart
ment. There is going to be one huge enormity
rising mp in the middle of the city above every
other public building, unless there be competi-
tion with the Pension Office.
Mr.. Allison-I have faith that the supervis-
ing architect will not in this capital erect a
building which can fairly be called what the
Senator from Connecticut characterzes as a
deformity. / think we can trust him TO provide
a suitable building far ornamentation is
concerned He not Obliged To bnIl1 m piOht-
story building; we do not require him to do So
but he stated that an eight-story building could
be erected there.
Mr.. Hawley-I leave my prophecy on record
that we shall be sorry for that eight-story
building in that position.
MIR. Aliison-l leave my prophecy on record
that the first story is to be granite and the re-
naming stories are to be of brick with terra
Gotta ornaments.
Mr.. Cockrell-Then if the granite sinks it
will not deeompose.
Mr.. Hawley-And the last five stories with
out ornament at all will look like great barn.
MIR. Allison-Oh, no; 100000 story Will
erect suitable building so far as ornament is
concerned.
Mr.. Teller-I should like to suggest to the
Senator from Iowa that we have tried this
economical plan of constructing buildings
that Is, without any ornament. The Pension
Office, which is perhaps the most suitable
building for doing public work of any building
In the city, Is not creditable from an architec-
tural point Of view. Had there been $50. 900
added to the million that was put into that
building It might have been made creditabe,
handsome building. The Senator from Iowa
tells me that 1t did not cost million. 1t cost
just about million, as l recolect. twas said
that it could be built for 100000 in the first
place.
Nr. Allison-Six hundred thousand dollars
Mr.. Teller-Four hundred thousand dollars. 1t
was increased from that time until the direct ap-
preparations were $500. 900, and there have been
appropriations made from time to time since
Now, to attempt TO restrict the architect to the
erection of plain, simple building on the
avenue will result just as stated by the Senator
from Connecticut, and If he follows out the
suggestions of the committee and of Congress
weshall have just such a building INTELLECTUALLY
as We have in Judiciary Square down here.
Mr.. Hawley-Worse, Mr.. President
Mr.. Teller-Or perhaps worse, because it will
be in place where it will be more observable
and where the size OF the building will render
Its height still more conspicuous and its eccen-
trlcltles still more observable.
Mr.. AlIson-I wish to say to the Senator
that We have not limited or restricted the su-
peryising architect in respect to this building
IN any way except one. We have provided
that II shall not exceed eight stories high and
that the cost shall not exceed 81 900. 900.
Mr.. Teller-That is. ground and all
Mr.. AlIlson-No, sir; 81, 900 for the build
ing. SO that when IT is completed there will be
S2,500, 600 here. do not think that Senators
can fairly say that this is to be an unsightly or
monumental building until at least the plans
are made.
Mr.. Cullom-I was going TO inquire whether
the committee propose to limit the architect
TO the kind Of plans that shall be adopted or
the style Of building that he shall put up.
Mr.. Allison-In no sense.
Mr.. Cuilom-I should hope not
Mr.. Allison-He is not limited in any sense
either as TO material We made an outside
limit as to cost and an outside limit as to the
height.
Mr.. Havley-Mr. President, one word more.
am not at all satisfied; protest against any
eight-story government building in this Dis
nlct-
Mr.. Edmunds-So dol
Mr.. Havley-Because there is room enough
and do not know the eight or twelve-story
building, the mOnstrosities in the country oil
that height, that will look well in this city, /,
Is out OF proportion entirely, and tell you il
dwarfs all the private buildings some of them
nne. that viii be along the avenue. You will
have some great buildings along both sides OF
that avenue In good time. but you dwarf the
whoie, rising away up above them all. l20 feet
nigh, IN a monstrOus mass OF brick. do not
care what exterior decoration OF terra Gotta he
puts upon II II dwarfs the town.
The Judge Let Her Go.