Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-08
PLENTY OF TALK
But No Action Yet on the Printine
Office Site.
Attacking and Defending the Differ.
The Subject Goes Over.

The Subject Goes Over.
After The Stars report closed yesterday
afternoon. the discussion on the printing Of
nee site continued in the House. Mr. Hep
burn OF Iowa followed Ar. Livingstone.
After finding much fault with the site pro-
posed by the committee, Mr.. Hepburn urged
the Malone site. In this connection he
said:
zone consideration that ought to animate
members Is this, Mr.. Chairman: There is
already, as / understand, q bill pa ssed the
Senate providing for the erection of this
building. Now. the difficulty and the DELAY
has occurred because OF the Disbursements
between the committees of the two houses.
These disagreements have been of such a
serious character and SO long continued that
1 think Joint committee has been raised
by one or more Congresses for the purpose
or securing a proper site And yet we find
now that the senate has made one proposi-
ton that. SO far rs they We're concerned.
was enacted into law, and is only now sus-
pended, perhaps, by a motion for recon-
slderation, while the House portion of the
committee has brought I'm an entirely diff
fereht proposition. We ought to agree 10
something
In the meantime. every one saws that de-
lays are perilous; every one says that the
present accommodations are entirely in
sufficient; that the building IL insecure: that
IL does not meet the demands either of
safety or of convenience, and yet we are
now, SO far as the propositions of our conn
mittee are concerned, no nearer TO an agree
ment than years ago when the subject first
began to be agitated. Now, somebody has
got to recede from some Of these precon-
ceiyed notions. We have got to adopt the
propositions of the Senate or they must
adopt ours. We know what they have done
a n 70 IN orr tn rh11fr
sitions. We know that we can secure legfs-
lation. We know that we can end this mat
ter. Then why is Ii not better to do that
than to adhere to the determination which
our committee has made and throw the
whole matter again into chaos%
Better Than Nothing.
Mr.. Heard of Missouri said: II am free to
say that do not like the site recommended
by the committee as well as one other pro-
posed: but Infinitely prefer that site to no
legislation. For years past have believed
that the best site offered for this building is
what is called the base ball park but we
have failed TO get that. We may fall to get
any Of these sites. but We ought not to fail
to legislate on this subject: and II we do.
we shall be held to a very severe account
by our constituents.
should such a disaster occur as we are
told by those who are well informed is liable
to occur at any time on account of the un-
suitablepess and weakness OF the present
building we could not be held gu!ltless.
There Is not a gentleman within the sound
OF my voice but viii concede that there
ought to be legislation upon this question.
Whether you adopt the view entertained by
the distinguished Senator from my state,
Mr.. Vest. and proceed to condemn the hall
ance of the block upon which the present
printing office stands and build your struc-
ture there, or take the site proposed by the
joint committee. the site proposed In this
bill. the base ball ground, the Malone lot
or any other site within a reasonable dis
tance OF this Capitol and situated so as to
anord proper foundation for such a struc-
ture-it makes no difference-but say it il
our duty to select some site and proceed TO
construct building Mt for the purposes of
the printing Office. so that our employees in
that department OF the service of the gov
eminent may have suitable and safe place
in which to work
Some gentlemen here prefer one Of these
propositions. and some another, but let US
not talk all the days Of our lives In a gen.
eral way about cur duty In this matter,
because as to that We all agree that II il
our duty to legislate promptly upon this
subject. Let us take up this question in
tangible form and vote upon one PROPOSE
after amendment. until we get a measure
tnat meets the views OF this body, and
when that is done let us give II the sanction
or our vote here. II the Senate agrees with
US, all right. II not. then It VIII be time
enough to talk about adopting a proposition
simply because the Senate has expressed a
preference for 1t.
For one. feel no assurance that the
action OF the Senate In favor Of the Malone
lot Is the best evidence that that is the
best site. would prefer the decision made
by the joint committee appointed to investi-
gate thoroughly this question. and to decide
II, or or our present committee presenting
this bill; but / repeat. IL Is our duty to take
up this subject and. after fair discussion.
70 let II be presented In some practical
FORM, upon which majority Of us agree
~ 81
coed as fast as We can to construct a build
ing ut for the use OF our employees in the
government printing Office"
The Committees Site.
Mr.. Abbott Of Texas defended the choice
OF the committee on public buildings and
grounds. He called attention to the fact
that the Malone site and the base bali
park are in the ncighborhood Of the Tiber
sewer. and held that the ground was not
stable Tor a foundation because the land
was once marsh.
M. Richardson OF Tennessee said: Mr.
chairman, L am opposed to the present
recommendation, because I think the price
Is TOO nign TO pay for the location. We
nave heard IL stated here today by the gem
tleman from Iowa CMr. Hepburn. and Der
haps others-and the gentleman from Iowa
seems TO have ground for his statement
that 1t would cost probably sisoooo to $780,
OOo 10 get ready to begin this work Now
the Malone site. which has been offered
VIII cost. 1t is conceded. $4,000 and per
haps more. II 1 remember correctly IN the
last Congress, when this matter was under
consideration. the bill that was considered
IN the Senate proposed $4,000. and then
an additional $4,000, IL am not nistaken
Tor the purpose Of purchasing the Malone
size making S2So.OoO or s29o.0O0 for thar
Mr.. Richardson also objected to placing
the building too far away from the little
MONIES OF the employees Of the office because