Evening star., 1893-10-07

In connection with the proposition to
build q new Government Printing ONCE Il
is said that there exists a sentiment favor
able TO placing the structure in one Of the
parks which the brainy designer OF the
city's plan caused to be set apart In the
interest OF public health and public pleas
ure. 1t Is also said that the author Of this
Idea Is Senator Vest of Missouri. That the
first statement IS true may easily be be-
heved by those who have watched with
agony some Of the antics past Congresses
have played with the equities Of those who
dwell within the District Of Columbia, but
that Senator Vest, who has uniformly been
such a strong friend OF the District, should
favor the notion seems almost absurd.
Every true American who has visited the
city is proud of its beauty, and delights in
fnstituting comparisons between it and
those highly decorated cities upon which
the hberality and good taste of the old
world have lavished countless millions. and
If the sentiment of this country could
easily be reached it would be found that
vast majority woald favor such extensive
improvements here as would make the
national capital more artistically attractive
than any other center of population on the
face of the earth. And yet. in defiance of
ment. there comes a proposition to make a
be one Of those emeraid-surfaced breathing
spots. the existence of which Is not based
on sentiment. but on the demands of the
enlightened intellect that declares them to
be absolutely necessary. That there is pre-
cedent for such trespass Is unfortunately
too true. but no one who has a soul ca
pable OF seeing beyond the milled edge of
a present dollar will argue in behalf Of re-
petition of the crime. When Congress
located the pension building on the north
ern extremity of Judiciary Square ii COM
mitted an offense that has not been and
may never be forgiven. This government
richer than any other government on the
globes sUrface-thought to save a trihe
by putting the ungainly-appearing struct-
ure in a public park. but IL was poor econ
omy. for In the years to come much ground
now occupied will be purchased at tremen-
dous prices for park purposes. This Is the
experience Of many others of the large
cities; in some places Smillions of dollars
having been spent in recent years because
the forefathers were short-sighted. Some
years ago it was proposed to occupy with
public buildings considerable portion of
the south side Of Pennsylvania avenue be-
bWccu tnc SdpllOi tne treasury depart
ment. Wise men indorsed the scheme and
the lapse of time has served merely to ac-
centuate their wisdom. The great official
thoroughfare lies along that line, and it
will be real economy to have as many as
possible of the government departments
housed in suitable buildings on one side of
the historic avenue. A commencement has
been made in the locating of the new city
post ONCE. and II Congress really wants to
save money in the end II will take possess
sion OF the property it needs in the region
Indicated No good reason can be ad-
vanced for a scattering of government
Offices. nor can any one offer a single OBJ
lection worth consideration to the presence
of the national buildings on the greatest
of Washington's highways. 1t Is sincerely
hoped that nothing more will be heard of
the proposition to devastate one Of our
beautiful parks, and those who have griev-
ances against Senator Vest should seek
some other way Of avenging themselves
than by accusing him Of one of the last
things OF which he would be expected to be
guilty.