The Washington times., 1894-05-08
TRYING TO CHOOSE A SITE
Congress Discussed the North Capitol
and c Lot, but Decides Nothing.
OPPOSITION TO ANY ACTION
Spacious Quarters, and Excellent Facili-
ties, but the Obstructionists Criticise
severely-Approved By the Printers.

On motion OF Mr.. Catchings, the bill pro-
viding for the erection OF government
printing house on the site between @ and d
streets, abutting Delaware avenue and North
Capital streets, was taken up for consideration
yesterday, and on motion Of Mr.. Bankhead,
chairman of the Committee on Public Build
ings and Grounds, the House went into Com
mittee of the Whole. The bill approprlates
100000 for the purchase OF land other than
that now owned by the government, and
81 5000 for the erection OF building
thereon.
Mr.. Bankhead opened with discussion OF
the bill, urging the great railway advantages
of the site proposed, and quoted Gen. Casey as
declaring that the lot in question was great
advantage, and then read letter from the
typographical union, commencing the loca-
tion chosen.
sMr. Hopkins here interposed that this loca-
tion would give the Baltimore and Ohio road
a monopoly OF the transportation, but Mr.
Bankhead said that competition would regu-
late that.
After some lengthy debate between Messrs.
Grain, AIilliken. Bryan, and Bankhead, the
latter, to cut OFF needless talk, asked at 2.30
o'clock unanimous consent to limit debate,
suggesting o'clock as the hour for closing
the same. Objection was made Then, on
motion of Mr.. Bankhead, the committee rose,
and a warm discussion occurred on closing
debate in which Messers. Hopkins, Johnson,
Burrows. and Bankhead took part.
At 2.40 Mr.. Bankhead moved that general
de bate be limited TO two hours. The Repub-
| licans refrained from voting, and as there
were but sixty votes in the affirmative, Mr..
Burrows made the point Of no quorum Mr..
Bankhead demanded the yeas and nays.
pending which Mr.. Burrows moved to ad-
journ, which was defeated-42 to rs.
Mr., Banbhead demanded the yeas and nays
on the question of adjourning, and Mr.. Bur
rows asked for telers on the demand for yeas
and nays. but before this was ordered the
opposing factions came together and patched
up an agreement, whereby the opponents OF
the bill should be allowed two and half
hours of general debate and its friends one
hour. The House then went into Committee
of the Whole to resume the consideration OF
the printing bill, and Mr.. Bynum resumed the
chair.
In Committee OF the Whole Mr.. Livingston
Dem. Ga opposed the location proposed
by the pending bill.
Mr. Grain (Dem., Texas) took occasion in
discussing the bill TO prod Mr.. Bankhead
and the Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds in general for refusing to report bills
Mr.. Berry, Il member OF the committee,
said that several bills introduced by members
of the committee had been favorably reported.
and in reply TO further question as to why
such partiality had been shown, stated that 1t
was customary to approve bills introduced by
members OF the committee as matter OF
courtesy.
Mr.. Grain making this answer his text, de-
liyered an eloquent protest against tavoritlsm
in the House, where every man was the peer
of every other man.
Mr.. Hepburn opposed the site recommended
by the committee. nut in view OF the fact that
in the near future the government would
have to erect great many buildings. he sug-
gested the advisability of promulgating some
general policy in the matter of public build
ings.
He therefore favored the purchase of all
the land on the south side OF Pennsylvania
avenue. from Ninth street to Fifteenth street
northwest, and extending to the mall, where
all future public buildings could be erected.
If purchased now the land could be acquired
at a very much lower figure than in a few
year hence.
At 507 o'clock the House rose from COM
mittee and almost Immediately adjourned.