Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-15

! With commendable promptness-as things
are measured by the congressional standard
1.-The House Committee Public Build
tngs and Grounds has made favorable re-
port upon a bill which will provide the
District Of Columbia with a worthy NUM-
hpal building. The committees plan is
DOT in accord with that submitted by the
District Commissioners nor is 1t a new one.
but IL will doubtless be regarded by Wash
Sfngtonians as deserving of support. The
proposition il to tear down the building
(Which has for many years been known as
The City Hall. although the city authorities
Lave had practically nothing to do with 1t
'ior a long time; then, when the rubbish has
been removed. to erect Jpn a considerably
enlarged site a structure in which all the
municipal offices and all the local and
United States courts will be permanently
provided for. The estimated cost of this
building is placed by the committee at
Sl,5OOOO0. and the sum named will not be
too large for the purposes to which the
committee recommends that it be applied.
In the absence of any knowledge as to con-
gressional leanings on this subject the Dis
trict Commissioners some time ago de-
cided to agitate in behalf of appropriations
for a building which should be located on
the south side OF Pennsylvania avenue be-
tv cen Seventh and Ninth streets. on a site
set apart for that purpose-a most desirable
location 1t is not, however. probable that
the Commissioners or any other persons
.swill offer any objection to the plan which
will doubtless be advocated by the COM
.mittee that today authorized a favorable
report The most important consideration
Is the building itself: it's location. within
q certain radius from the business center
Is a mere incident. The demolition of the
old City Hall will hardly be regretted by
anyone unless for sentimental reasons.
The attention of Congress has several times
been directe2 to its unsanitary condition
and occasional efforts have been made to
improve the interior, but in spite Of all the
amendatory endeavors the structure still
abounds in anti-hygienic threats and un-
healthful possibilities. In addition to these
reasons for its removal the old structure
II unsightly in the extreme and esthetically
discreditable to the people who reside at
the national capital 1t is to be regretted
that the House committees plan calls for
the sacrifice of even only few additional
feet of the Judiciary Square Park, but that
larceny will not greatly disturb the friends
of our park system. who can already see
how much better the square will appear
when such building as that proposed
succeeds the intolerably ugly specimen
OF the builders art that now vies dis
ereditably with the red abomination on
the northern end of the reservation. 1t is
to be hoped that the House will speedily
eract the committees suggestions or pro-
vide for the erection of the building on
Pennsylvania avenue and that the Senate
will concur at the earliest possible mo-
nent. A municipal building is urgently
needed and the work which it's construction
will require cannot but relieve much of
the misery from which the bulk of this
city's mechanics are now suffering.