Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-10
A MUNICIPAL BUILDING
The Board of Trade Have Hearing Be-
fore the Senate Committee
Its Members Advocate the Judiciary
Square Slte-Whnt Senator Harris
Says on the Subject.

A delegation from the board or trade o.
| this city met a subcommittee of the Dis
| trict committee of the Senate today to urge
| speedy action on the pending bill providing
| for the erection of municipal building OF
| Judiciary Square on the site Of the presen
courthouse. There were present Messrs
| b. H. Warner, Myron M. Parker. w. F
Mattingly, w. L. Cole ]. b. Wight, Thoma.
Somerville and George Gibson. Senator
Harris Joined the subcommittee, which con
sists Of Senators Hunton, Faulkner and Nc
MILAN.
The arguments were begun by brief
statement by Mr.. Warner as president OF
the board of trade, who said that there
was probably no question as to the neceS-
sity for a new municipal building.
mo. no." exclaimed Senator Harris
everybody comedies that"
Mr.. Warner went on to state that a large
sum Is not asked for at first, but only
enough to make start.
Senator Harris asked what is the pref
erence Of the board of trade between an
addition to the city hall building or to a
new building on the avenue.
In Favor of judiciary Square.
Mr.. Somerville was introduced as chair
man on public buildings of the board OF
trade. and he said that last year the board
had teen in favor of erecting the building
on the market reservation, but so much
opposition had been developed that it was
thought better to show the voice of tine
board now in favor Of the Judiciary Square
sta.
would the business men and taxpay-
ers of the city prefer the Judiciary Square
site?" asked Senator Harris.
Mr.. Somerville answered that the bust
ness men generally preferred city hall site
under the existing circumstances.
Mr.. Harris States His Position.
Senator Harris then announced that his
only objection to this plan is that there
would probably be a necessity at some
not far distant date Of condemning the
square north of the present library site
on Capitol Hill in order to balance the Cap
itol reservation, and on that to build the
structure to accommodate the Department
of Justice, the Supreme Court and all the
courts now in session in the District.
In view of that opinion he did not be-
lieve he would look with favor upon any
plan to erect a new courthouse building on
the city hall square. He said he had no
objections to building municipal offices on
the city hall square If there was not too
much encroachment on the reservation.
Senator Hunton said that he had always
been opposed to any new occupation OF
public squares, but as this plan only in
wolves an enlargement of the occupied
territory on Judiciary Square he was not
averse to the scheme. He said, however
that some of the judges were not in favor
of the erection of a new building for the
courts on the square that would be partly
occupied by municipal offices.
Senator Mcmillan said that he had al
ways favored the location of the munich
pal offices on the avenue but he recognized
the fact that there would be a great fight
among the real estate dealers II such a
plan were decided upon, which would
probably delay the project many years
AS a second choice he was heartily In
favor Of Judiciary Square, which was
high ground and very convenient.
Mr.. Mnttingly for the District Bar.
Mr.. Mattingly, representing the bar OF
the District, argued that the present To-
cation of the city hall and the courts is
very convenient and central. He thought
that any attempt to locate the local courts
on Capitol Hill would meet with great OBJ
lection from the practicing attorneys and
from the citizens generally.
II would be q great Inconvenience to wit
nesses and jurors, nine-tenths of whom re-
side and do business west of the CAPITOL.
He thought that the justices of the SUI
preme Court would strenuously oppose any
proposition to take them out of the Capitol
building and place them in the same build
ing with another court.
senator Harris Interruption.
They have no business here" said Sem
ator Harris, land if the necessities and
proprieties of the case should demand, they
would most certainly have to get OUT
Mr.. Mattingly then went on with his
argument, quoting the cases of foreign
governments where the municipal offices Of
all the large cities are most magniicently
housed. The hearing was in progress when
The Stars report closed.