Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-03

The uunieipal building idea has, so far as
ths senate can do II. been laid away to rest,
and FOR at least two or three years more the
District will continue to hire the only available
but always unsuitable quarters at a rental which
4 very much more than the interest upon tine
price - = firss-clas- structure. Strange argu-
meat prevailed IN the Senate yesterday when
the project was under discussion. Senator Vest
thought the matter should have been referred
o. thu committee on public buildings and
grounds. forgetfal % the Fact that that COM
n 'ttes has had the whole affair in its hands for
much more than year but without ever hav-
ing given II any serious consideration. Then
came the contention that municipal building
you'll deface Pennsylvania avenue ard would
b di-agrseahle to the ladies who are in
the habit o. visiting the Center market. It is
extremely difficult for the average mind to IN
der-tand how a cre,iitable piece of architecture
could possibly damage the appearance Of the
south side % Pennsylvania avenue, and it is no
more easy - grasp the idea that building
which would be no nearer 5th or 9Th street
than one hundred and fifty feet could in
any way annoy disturb lady marketers.
Ladies walk OF drive without hindrance or in
suit past a score Of hotels that are located on
main thorOughfares in spite OF the fact that
around all % these places of public resort there
l. no lack OF more or less respectable lOafers-
Why then, should ladies hesitate 10 pass within
che hundred and fifty feet of a building
devoted b. law and good government. its inte-
rior and exterior guarded and purified by con-
tinuAl police presence Ii was also contested
that no public parking should be given up for
use a. a building site, but the Senators who
argued thus, and with apparent propriety, were
forgetfal Of the fact that the reservation in
question was long ago set apart for the purpose
10 which the Commissioners have endeavored
To apply it. Attention might also be directed
20 the fact tina; this strong moral sentiment as
TO the appropriation of parks was not visible in
the Senate when that body passed bill which
authorized the spending OF $4,000 on flower
market which, If the measure should unfor-
tunaiely become law. would be located upon
reservation Just across 9th street from the site
of the proposed municipal building. How do
Senators excuse their action as to the park
which thew propose to destroy by placing
thereon a flower market VIII it be by the
statement that 1T is such HIS one?
Men Who are informed a. to local legislation
have never regarded the more or less verdan.
strip in front Of the Center market "a any more
than piece Of ground Sc; apart for business
purposes. Congress, in ISL. declared it TO be
the Size Tor a municipal building. From that
day TO this It has remained comparatively unim-
proved because the prospect Of great s,ruc-
tire was ever before the eyes o. the intelligent
public. Ii Is not public park and cannot be
unless the same power which declared it to be a
building site shall reverse legislation which,
shamefully and foolishly. has been allowed to
acquire mold during period Of tweniy-three
years