Evening journal., 1893-06-15
CONGRESSWILLPROVIDE
Chairman Holman Says Uncle
Sam Will Care for the Bereaved
SAFEGUARDS IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS

A Hall of Records Must BE Built for |
the Storage of Documents and Papers |
That Must BE Preserved-Two New
Buildings Which VIII Accommodate
5000 Clerks-NO Nation Regards
Public Safety as the L. S. Does.
WASHINGTON, June 15.-Mr. Holman,
chairman of the House Committee on
Appropriations, said this morning during
a conversation about the recent disaster
in this city and the probability of other
buildings being insecure, that he be-
lieved Congress had in the past and
would in the future deal literally with
the matter of providing safe public
buildings and enact such legislation as
would look to the preservation of human
life.
Concerning the government printing
Office, against which the most criticism
is directed, Mr.. Holman said Congress
was practically unit in its willingness
to appropriate money for a new and
suitable building. The trouble up to
this time has been in securing a site. The
matter had not, he said, been brought to
the attention of the House by resolution
or otherwise since the Fifty-frst Con-
gress, but was in the hands of the Joint
Committee on Printing He believed
building was badly needed and that
bill with that end in view would be
introduced promptly upon the reassem-
bling of Congress and passed
Mr.. Holman is of the opinion that
under the Joint resolution passed Feb
ruary 6, 1888, the public printer has
full authority to lessen the
weight on the floors of his building by
removing stuff and occupying other
buildings. In an emergency at the time
named this resolution was passed and
approved the same day and by night men
were removing the heavy books and
storing them elsewhere.
The resolution directs the public
printer TO forthwith remove from the
government printing office so much of
the property of the United States in the
upper stories as shall, in his opinion, and in
the opinion Of the architect of the Capitol
render the building entirely safe for the
persons employed therein. This work
was done and money appropriated for
It, aud since then, even last year. So, ,O0O
was appropriated under the resolution,
which is still in force.
No Government Regards Life as Ours.
mo government in the world" said
Mr.. Holman, "holds life in such regard
as ours. This has been instanced many
times. Our exteI 81 e life saving service
and the prompt way in which the Greely
Relief Expediii7n was sent out SHOW
this. Had Congress known this building
vase unsafe, DO you imagine 1t woul'
haYe been permitted to stand as it was
must Have Hall OF Records.
After the city post office, the mex
public building to be provided by Con
gress, will be hall of records, and thi
will relieve many of the present build
ings. There are many public record
that have to be stored where they can b.
reached notably among them those o
the General Land Office Such building
will relieve all the departments of an i'm
mense amount of trash and be vas
saving Of room.
New Buildings viii Accommodate 5000
"While this talk of safer public build
ings is before the public it should b
remembered that there are now tw
under way that, when finished will &C
commodate fully 5000 clerks. The cit
post office will only occupy the basemen
and frst floor of that building and Super
vising Architect Windrin estimated tina
the building would accommodate beside
the post office, 5000 clerks. The me-
library building will be completed i
four years The great congressioni
library, large as it is. will, when finished
only occupy one quarter of the building
which will be larger than the state, wa
and navy building"
will Care for the Victims Families.
Returning to the Ford's Theatre di
aster, Mr.. Holman said he supposed Il
matter would come up before Congress
the shape of bills for the relief Of Il
victims and he was sure that COngre
would do what was right. 1t was again
the policy of the government, he sal
TO establish civil pension list, but
was confident some way would be -four
to recompense. so far as any recompen
could be made, the families of these po
victims.
TO BE TRIED IN SEPT EMBER.