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

| THE HUTTON LICENSE BILL INCORPORATED A
| PART OF THE MEASURE THAT PAssED-rHr
| GAS AND ELECTRIC LIeHr QUESTION - TIKI
| LOCATION OF THE CONTAGIOUS HOSPITAL
Late yesterday afternoon the Senate resumed
the consideration of the District appropriation
bill, and when they had adjourned the measure
had been passed The bill went through the
| Senate in practically the same form in which it
was reported to that body. The only change Of
importance was the striking from the bill the
| Senate amendment fixing the site for the new
| municipal building and making beginning Of
that project by giving the Commissioners the
right TO accept offers for plans for the building.
A number of verbal amendments we're made
and agreed to and the clause relating to the
new municipal building was taken up. Mr..
Vest obtained the floor to oppose tho PROPOSE
| ton. He thought that the matter should have
been referred 20 the committee on public build
in9s and grounds. but aside from that he was
opposed to tho location proposed. II think, ="
ne said. that The erection OF this building tor
the District OF Columbia upon the park in front
of the market on Pennsylvania avenue would
dishgare and deface this magnificent boulevard
and that no place could be selected for such a
building so nlanifestly Inappropriate.
Mr.. President. as was said yesterday by the
Senator from Maryland. the class OF people who
will visit this building in the immediate vicinity
OF Center Market viii be disaSreeable to the
ladies of the city of Washington, who neces-
sariiy must go to tina. market from day to day.
Ii seems to nee that the fact that this property
belongs to the government should be an inferior
consideration when we reflect that Pennsylvania
avenue, the most beautiful street in the United
States. il not in the world. should have this
park as il ia now. and it should not be occupied
by an edifce, no matter how Perfect may he its
architecture. This proposition comes to me
without l Il
confess that in every aspect Of it it does not
commend itself to my approval.
THE CITY POST OFFICE SITE.
II was on the subcommittee which located
the city post Office, and we condemned an en-
tire block on Pennsylvania avenue for The pur-
poses of a city post Office. 1t was expected
then, and stated in the debate when OPPOSE
ton was made to that proposition in tho Senate.
that portion OF the building to be co siructed
upon the ground winch we condemne-. for city
post Office could be used for the purposes OF the
District of Columbia. As matter of course,
all that building cannot be taken up by the city
post Office. 1t is contemplated that portion
of the business OF the Gen erGl Post Office De-
partment viii be transferred to that building;
but even if that should be done there will still
be n large portion of it which can be used for
the purposes of a municipal hall by tho Dis
trict Unless the committee on appropriations
can present some overwhelming reason for TAX
ing the ground in front OF the market place
for the purposes indicated in this bill. submit
that it should not be done. In addition to
that, any Senator who happens to know the
peculiar form OF that park will recognize the
fac. that 1T Is no! OF the shape and dimensions
for such building contemplated by this
amendment. 1t may be tina. the committee
have some information in regard to obtaining
other ground. but the park now is no suit
able building for the purposes to which this is
proposed to be dedicated can be put upon that
park.
''But, Mr.. President. over and above all. I.do
protest against putting this proposed building
there upon Pennsylvania avenue, eliminating
that park-and | use the word advisedly-de
facing this magnificent boulevard by any such
structure. IL we are to put public buildings
upon that avenue, il should be done with the
greatest care. L should be glad to see such
edifces as the government needs hereafter
placed upon that side of Pennsylvania avenue,
but would never destroy one OF these parks.
l have persistentiy and consistently as a mem
Der of the committee on public buildings and
grounds fought every proposition to do away
with single park in the city Of Washington.
II believe that every Senator will agree with
me that the most charming feature OF this city
is the system of parks which we have here now.
Is it possible that the government Of the United
States, this immense government, is reduced to
the necessity of destroying one of these parks
upon this magnificent boulevard in order to put
up a District building?'
1R. MMILLAN THINKS THE SITE UNSUITABLE.
Mr.. Mcmillan, chairman of the District COM
miItee said that he was much surpr Used that
the Commissioners had selected this site for
the building. There was not, however, any
doubt that such a building should be built.
I'VE are now paving some S36, 900 a year rent,
and we can well afford to erect a handsome
structure. costing, say, $500. 900, and to con-
denim enough land on Pennsylvania avenue, the
same as we did for the city post office, a to
make a handsome square, and erect a building
that will be Of proper design and be a credit to
tie District. This piece OF ground proposed
to be taken is only seventy-fve feet deep. 1t
is a long, narrow strip in angle. i think it
VIII be very unsuitable for such building and
1 shall certainly oppose taking it,"
Mr.. Morgan thought the corner Of 7th street
and Pennsylvania avenue was the most danger
Gus spot in the city for women and children on
account of the crossing Of the two cable lines,
and the erection there Of the city building
would draw an increased crowd, and he consid-
cred it an extremely reckless thing to do.
CHOSEN By THE COMMISSIONERS.
Mr.. Allison explained that the amen It
was placed in the bill at the request Of the
Commissioners, but before doing SO they had
made what investigation they could regarding the
site. 1t would be $50 feet from 7th street and
the same from 9th street. 1t would close up
WAAt III MS opiuiou was u very suaDDy appear
ance at that portion Of the avenue 1--WE find
the situation today just as We have found it for
good many years; and when We seeking
to make an appropriation for municipal
building We always find an objection hero and
there to the location. The District Of Column
bia has been for ten or twelve years without a
municipal building. l know if this beginning
Is not made and this space is not used for this
purpose, while 1t may be in the dreams Of
Senators a wise thing to acquire the lot on Penn
sylvania avenue for this purpose, that dream
will not be realized in the near future" The
amendment was rejected.
THE CONTAGIOUS HOSPITAL.
Mr.. Stewart called attention to the fact that
the selection of the site for the contagious hos
pital had been left to the Commissioners and
stated that several citizens had spoken to him,
as they feared that location might be made
in the northern or western portion Of the city.
They Thought that if the hospital located
| in that portion Of the city the result might
be dangerous to the health Of the city, the
prevailing winds were from that quarter.
MIR. Allison thought that the matter was safe
| in the hands OF the Commissioners and that
| they had III view the selection of some goWern-
ment land near the insane asylum.
THE HUTTON LICENSE BILL.
| Mr.. Mcmillan offered as an amendment to
| the bill what is known the Hunton license
| bill. Mr.. Hunton made concise and effective
| statement of its provisions and the necessity
4 for such lpQislatiOu After n brief digcussion