Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-19
A NEW DISTRICT BUILDING.
The Nscessity for One Apparent to All the
Commissioners.


FORMER AGITATION IN REGARD TO rHE xATrrR
AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS xApE-ooxxls-
sIoSER porGLAss OWES HIS vIEws ON THK
srBJrcr AT SOME LENGTH.
For some time past the Commissioners have
been considering the advisability of asking
congress for An appropriation for a new Dis
erict building. The proposition 20 have a suit
Able homo for the municipal government has
met with favor on all sidesand by far the larger
proportion Of the people OF the city are hoping
that when the Commissioners do ask for new
building they will succeed in getting what they
ask.
At present the headquarters of the District
government are in n large, but by no means
too roomy. building on the ives, side of let just
below street. The police headquarters and
the health Office are several blocks away in
buildings that are inadequate and by no means
credit to the departments that occupy them.
ror years the fact has been patent that there
wonld be an immense advantage in having all
the branches of the government centralized in
some convenient part of town. As it is now
II good mornings tack 20 make
the rounds Of the departments as many persons
have to do, and the officers OF the government
who FOR one reason or another arc Obliged TO
report at the Commissioner Office frequently
IND that very considerable amount of time is
wasted in leaving their own offices TO visit
others that it would seem from the nature of
things should be readily accessible.
FORMER RECOMMENDATIONS.
The present agitation for new building TO
be owned by the District and used for its own
needs is not the first, though it appears to be
the most determined one. In their report to
the President year ago tie Commissioners
said:
1t is discred;table to the nation and to this
community that the municipal government az
the national capital is Obliged TO resort to the
use OF Q rented building for Office accommoda-
ton.
Congress, recognizing the inadequacy Of
the old city hall for the accommodation both Of
the courts and municipal offices. appropriated
SIS, 900 to purchase the interest Of the District
in this building. and restricted the use of SAID
money to the erection of a separate municipal
building. as follows:
"For the purchase by the United States of
the interest of the District OF Columbia in the
present city hall building. in Washington. now
used solely for government purposes, such sum
as may be determined by three imparii APP
praisers to be selected by the Secretary OF the
Interior. not exceeding $4,000; the same 10 be
applied by said District only for the erection
OF suitable building for the District offices.
And the governor and board Of public works
are authorized, if they deem it advisable
for that purpose, to make arrangements to Sc
cure sufficient land fronting on Pennsylvania
and Louisiana avenues between 9TH and 9th
streets. Provided, That the government Of the
United States shall not be liable for any
penditures for said land or for the purchase
money therefor. or for the buildings 10 be
erected thereon. and no land or the there
Of Is hereby granted Cor the purpose of erect
ing any building thereon.
The money drawn by the treasurer of
the board Of public works, but was not
pended Tor the specific purpose for which the
appropriation was made. The money. If now
treated rs portion of the revenues OF the Dis
trict and set aside for the purpose intended,
would 20 far to form the nucleus of a fund 10
be devoted to the original purpose. To this
might be added with propriety the proportion
which is due to the Distract rs its rebate of the
war quota
COMMISSIONER DOUGLASS VIEWS.
When spoken to on the subject this morning
by a STAR reporter Commissioner Douglass ex-
pressed himself rs heartily in sympathy with
the move to get better accommodations for the
District government. 80 far as / know" said
he, there is not another city in the country of
anything like the size OF Washington that is
not better OF in the matter of accommodations
for its municipal government. As II is now We
are paying upwards of $4,000 per annum
rental for the District building, struc-
ture that is not fireproof, not well To-
Gated, nor large enough nor in any way
commensurate with the dignity OF the city gov
eminent. In addition we are renting a num-
Der OF other buildings for subordinate branches
of the government.
1.-The confusion and bother arising from such
state of affairs is anything but small. For ex-
ample, man has some business with the gov
eminent. In all probability he comes directly
down here to the District buildings. Perhaps
he has struck the right place, but as likely as
not he is referred to some other building in
some other section of town. and as he loses q
good deal of time and patience in this way he
wonders why things are as they are.
OUGHT ALL TO BE UNDER oyE ROOF.
"Now, in my opinion, and think there are
not many people who will disagree with
me, all the members Of the municipal
family ought to be under one roof. The
convenience that would arise from such a state
Of affairs, both to the local officials and to the
public generally, would be beyond dispute, but
the necessity for a new building can be urged
upon u higher ground even than this.
Washington, the capital city Of the nation. ought
to have a home for ats local government that
would be an honor and a credit TO il, instead OF
being compelled to occupy q leased building
that is a constant menace from the fact that II
is not even freproof.
what We want is a conveniently located,
handsome building that would cost say from
$500, 900 to $500 600 1t should have in it ac-
commodations for all the branches of the COVER
ment that are now housed together
here and should also have room
for the police headquarters, the health
Office, the STRENGTHENING department, the Of
flee Of the sealer of weights and measures, the
Office OF the attorney for the District, and, in
fact, for all Of the departments except those
that for some special reasons might be better
placed somewhere else.
THE BEST SITE.
'To my mind the best location for such q
building would be on the reservation on the
south side Of Pennsylvania avenue between 9TH
and 9th streets. This would be q convenient
and slightly place, and a handsome building
there would be decided improvement to the
appearance of the avenue.
$50 far We have only been considering the
desirability of new building and have not
made any definite plans at all But the matter
is receiving close attention from the Board of
Commissioners, and as the necessity for
q new official home for the city
becomes more evident every day it is more
than probable that a recommendation along
the lines / have marked out will be made to
Congress at its coming session"