The Washington times., 1894-10-25
DETRIMENTAL TO The CITY
President Warner Declares that the
Spirit of TOadyism Here is HurtfuI.
THE BOARD OF TRADE MEETS
Washington's Representative Business Men
Discuss the Needs of the City-They Favor
s2,5OO,OoO Municipal Building and
Much Larger Fire Department

4@GSA 6GA GS1 @~@S 0SkNA
"There is lack of enterprise in this city.
The spirit of toadyism in the District has re-
tarded industrial progress in the Capital5of
the nation. We want self-development here
instead of governmental aid"
Such were the stirring words OF President
D. II. Warner of the Washington Board OF
Trade at a meeting of that organization in
the Builders Exchange last night. Mr.. War
ner was discussing the report OF the COM
mittee on commerce. especially their recon-
mendation regarding the Development of
manufactures in the District, and his remarks
were heartily Endorsed by every member OF
the board present
q This subject Of the industrial development
Of the city was the most important one before
the meeting and was discussed at length by a
number Of gentlemen. 1t was the unanimous
opinion Of the board that the almost unlim-
tied water power in this vicinity should not
be allowed to waste. but be utilized for the
benefit of the eitys growth.
The meeting last night was one of the most
important in the boards history, and reports
favoring an increase of force in the building
inspectors Office and the fire department.
and recommending the erection of a new mu-
nicipal building on the city hall square were
also adopted.
President Warner called the meeting to
order few moments before s o'clock, and
referred 10 the presence Of eX-Commissioner
NJ NJ. Parker, who had often been a regular
attendant at the board of trade meetings,
and invited Mr.. Parker, on behalf of the
board, TO occupy a seat On the platform. The
presidents statement was greeted with ap-
plause, but Mr. Parker, after thanking the
board for its courtesy, said he preferred not
to sit on the platform.
The first business TO come before the meet
ing was q report of the executive committee,
recommending several changes in the con-
stitutOn relating TO the admission of mem
bers Action on the changes were deferred
until the next meeting OF thh board.
BUILDING INSPECTORS OFFICE.
Reports Of committees was the next bust
ness and Mr.. Thomas w. Somerville, chair
man Of the committee on public buildings
read the report regarding the needs of the
inspector of buildings Office. 1t is in sub
stance as follows:
Your committee feels that the importance
TO the community of having the force of the
! building Inspectors office equal to the de-
mands upon it is apparent to all. a recent
| disastrous occurrence in our city shows with
! startling clearness, were indeed any proof
necessary. that constant and vigilant inspec-
/ tion of buildings in course of erection is alb
solutely essential to the preservation of life
! and property Such inspection can. of course
/ be maintained only by means ola proper force
/ at the disposal OF the inspector Of buildings.
That official has repeatedly called attention to
] ha IN 0f "a ayi=ripoy
The report quotes freely from Mr.. En-
! twisle's report for 1892, from which the fol-
/ lowing is selected:
when you consider the amount of work
/ required of this Office, there is no department
of the District government so deficient in
! force TO attend to its own business, and none
/ so poorly paid as those now employed, for
] the knowledge and work required of them. F"
The report then continues:
The conditiOn of affairs indicated by the
! foregoing statement should not exist: indeed
il is essential to the public safety that prompt
measures be taken TO remedy the evil. Y our
! committee earnestly urges the Endorsement
/ by the board of trade OF the following resolu-
/ tion, unanimously adopted at meeting of the
committee:
"Resolyed by the committee on public
! Building of The Washington Board of
/ Trade, That, in the opinion of this committee
! q material increase should be made in the
! appropriation for the support of the office of
/ the inspector OF buildings of the District of
/ Columbia. a larger force for said Office being
! demanded by due regard for the public
| safety, as essential to the efficient perform
/ ance Of the duties devOlved thereon by ex-
( listing law, and that the board oftrade should
! use It's best efforts 10 secure such appropri-
ation.'
Chairman SomerviIle, OF the committee,
moved that the resolution be adopted. Ex-
| Commissioner Parker seconded the motion,
| and said 1t was impossible for the inspector of
| buildings to properly conduct the affairs the
! of Office with the present force. In his recol-
| lection no building had collapsed through
the carelessness Of Building Inspector Ent-
wisle. The resolution was unanimously
adopted.
NEW MUNICIPAL BUILDING.
In submitting a report of the public build
ings committee on the subject of new mu-
nicipal building, Mr.. Somerville said the COM
mittee thought it the wiser plan TO take some
action now II order that the subject may be
! brought before Congress without delay after
| the session opens. The committee also SUBJ
mitted the plans of the building which have
! been approved by the Commissioners and
| judges Of the United States courts. The re-
| port was in part as follows:
''SInce the date of its last report to the
| board Of trade in March, on the subject OF a
municipal building for the District of Colum-
! bia, your committee has continued 10 give
| this most important question careful atten-
! ton. and Is now prepared to bring to the at
/ tention of the board and the public in definite
] form the conclusions which have been
/ reached.
"The existing accommodations are to a
great extent rented buildings, poorly adapted
to the purpose for which they are used and
| entirely incommensurate with the needs and
! dignity of the National Capital In brief. it
may be said without eTaggeration that the
! condition of affairs is both lamentable and
! disgraceful, and measures should be taken
! without delay to secure for the District an
! appro pirate municipal building in which all
the Offices Of our local government may be
conveniently and suitably accommodated.
PLAN OF THE STRUCTURE.
'With this end in view your committee
takes much pleasure in submitting herewith
theplans Of such structure, unanimously ap-
proved by the Honorable Commissioners and
the judges Of the supreme court of the Dis
trict of Columbia" F"
/ The building thus contemplated is to be
erected on Judiciary square, in such manner
that the present courthouse can be occupied
/ by the United States courts and other offices
during the construction of the new building
the old building to be torn down after the