The Washington times., 1894-08-12
MAHONE'S HOPES BLASTED
Adjacent Site to the Government
Printing Office Decided On.
OTHER PROPOSALS VOTED DOWN
Insecurity of the Present Building Again
Dilated Upon-Appropriation in the Sun
dry Civil Bill of 1890 Made Available for
the Purchase of the Ground.


The House decided yesterday afternoon by
vote of 1873 to IL to settle the iquestion of a
Government Printing House site by directing
that land adjacent to the present building be
acquired and a suitable addition erected
thereon The money is to be paid out of the
s250, 900 appropriated by the sundry civil bill
in 1890 and not expended. Messrs. Sayers,
O'Neill and Cogswell were appointed con-
ferees on the bill.
When the result was announced there was
considerable applause and handshaking
among members. Gen. Malone, who had
stood anxiously at the main door OF the
House during the two hours debate. quietly
and sadly slipped out and left the building.
1t was very evident he realized that this was
to be the last Of the Malone lot" for good
while at least.
Before the amendment for the extension of
the present printing house, offered by Chair
man Bankhead. of the Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds, was adopted two
other propositions were voted down. One
was the famous 'Mahone lot" proposition,
the second was the proposition for the use of
walton at Sixth and B streets, near the Penn
sylyania Railroad station. The former was
championed by Mr.. Wise. of Virginia, and
supported by almost all the Virginia delega-
ton. The vote on this was SO ayes, 127 noes.
The latter was urged by Mr.. Bretz, of Indiana,
who made the report of the Buildings and
Grounds Committee on May in favor OF the
Fish Commission site, under specific instruc-
tions from the House to select the most suit
able location on land now owned by the gov
ernment. This was rejected by vote of IS
ayes to lO5 noes. Fortunately the House was
in a business-like mood and not single roll
call was had. Several belligerent and petit
Jogging members, friends of the "Mahone
lot' and of the public reservation scheme,
were disposed to demand roll-call, but both
demands were unsupported by sufficient
number.
MR.. WISE ADVOCATES THE MALONE LOT.
When the discussion was begun at 2:30
o'clock, Mr.. Taylor asked that the time for
debate be limited to two hours. This was
granted bv unanimous consent, and the Sem
ate amendment read, appropriating S25O,OO0
for the Malone lot.
Mr. Wise, of Virginia, Immediately arose
and moved that the House recede from its
nent. He then made rather vehement ar
gument for the Malone lot. laying special
stress on the fact that its railway facilities
would make 1t the most desirable site possi-
bic. Senator Vest had once urged the prop
osition in the Senate and the need for the
new building was thoroughly indorsed by the
Government Printer. Mr. Wise soon yielded
to Mr.. Bretz, of Indiana, member OF the
Committee on Buildings and Grounds.
Mr.. Brett stated that subcommittee of
the Committee on Buildings and Grounds, by
instructions from the House, had examined
all the government reservations in the city,
and had favored the south end of public res
ervation No. g known as the Fish Commits
sion site, between Sixth and Seventh ald b
and D streets. This report had been pre-
sented on May 9, although the committee was
not unanimously in favor of erecting print
ing house on public reservation. This site
was near the Pennsylvania station and tracks,
where all freight could be easily transported.
This was the committees choice, if any reser-
vation was to be used.
MIR. Bretz then moved that this site be Sc
lected, and the Secretary of the Treasury,
Architect Of the Treasury, and Public Printer
be made committee to pass on plans, etc,
for building to cost S1.250. 600. The work
was to be done by days labor, andthe $3.50. 900
appropriated in 1890 was to be available for
beginning the work.
Mr.. Brett then gave way to Mr.. Bankhead,
the chairman OF the Committee on Buildings
and Grounds. He discussed the work of the
committee and how Mr.. Bryan and Mr.. Brett
had brought in the proposition to locate the
building on n public reservation. The COM
mittee was directed so to prepare bill, and
although all but two members were opposed
to it a report had been presented as directed.
The Senate had now, however, inserted an
amendment in the sundry civil appropriation
bill and the question was thus raised again.
The Committee on Buildings and Grounds
had carefully examined the Malone property
and decided unanimously that il was insult
able for such purpose. The reasons were
its inconvenience. location and the fact that
the lot was fllled-in land. A sewer runs
through one corner of it.
Il deny it, said Mr.. Wise with considera-
BILE heat.
'Then you deny the official maps of the
city. l have one in my pocket" said Mr..
Bankhead.
$50 have l." replied Mr.. Wise. amid an out
burst of laughter, and forthwith pulled one
out of his pocket. He did not evidence any
desire 10 show it, however.
BANKHEAD HAD THE BIGGEST MAP.
Mr.. Bankhead, instead of pulling map
out of his pocket, produced large roller map.
and spread it out triumphantly after the FASH
ion portrayed in the pictures of Columbus
showing the chart of the Indies to Queen Isa-
bella.
LAS the gentleman from Virginia has not
shown down." he said, amid further laughter,
II will show what the location of this sewer
is" He then proceeded to prove the state
ment he had just made.
Mr.. Bankhead then said he should offer an
amendment or a substitute in order to get
the very best settlement that could be made
during this session OF Congress. at advo-
Gates" he said, '.the purchase of additional
land adjacent to the site of the present Print
ing Office, where a suitable building can be
placed. / am not in thorough accord with
such action. but we must recognize the fact
that we cannot have our way. Immediate
action certainly ought to be taken.'' He then
referred to the letter of the Public Printer
read by Mr.. Wise in which the declaration
was made that it cost, S25 900 year to trans
port supplies to and from the Government
Printing Office.
II would not. 1 say. favor this proposition
II a better one would be pushed through" he
continued. 1.-THE location ought to be better.
the ventilation ought to be better. Business
principles would dictate all this-the princi-
Piles which business man would pursue if he
were undertaking this project"
Mr.. Henderson, of Iowa, urged that the
duty OF selecting site was the most impera-
men and women working under the shadow
of DEATH" he declared with earnestness. 'we
should not delay longer" Let me call at
tention to some facts, First, there is no ap-
preparation made by this amendment to the
sundry civil bill; il is not new appropria-
ton. 1t simply provides for the use OF an