Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-07
The PRINTING OFFICE
Discussion in the House Today Over
the Proposed Site.
THE COMMITTEE FAVOR SQUARE 683
A Variety Of Opinions Expressed
by the Members.
PROPERTY IN THIS CITY

2 ROP E RTY IN THIS CITY
The House this morning commenced the
consideration of the bill to provide new
government printing Office. the committee
on rules. at the solicitation Of Mr.. Bank
head. having brought in a rule setting aside
today for that purpose. and for considera-
ton Of the bill to provide hall of records.
The bill and the report accompanying It.
both Of which have been published in The
Star. were read 10y the clerk. The bill pro
vides for the acquisition of a site in square
6s3. between D street and Delaware ave-
nue.. North Capitol and c streets.at a cost OF
$SOO.O and appropriates 100000 for the
building.
Mr. Bankhead. addressing the House. said
he presumed IT would be conceded that a
new government printing office is needed,
and needed speedily. His committee has
bestowed a great deal Of thought upon the
question and has investigated great many
sites The committee decided that other
considerations besides the price named for
site should enter into the question. us
availability. railroad communication. health
fulness Of situation and advantages Tor
means Of ready transportation OF material
were some Of these considerations.
sits?" asked Mr.. Hopkins Of Illinois.
ut won't cost more than half the amount
which would be required to furnish a
foundation on the site which the Senate
bill propo ses." replied Mr. Bankhead-
The Railroad Facilities.
Continuing, he said the site Under consid-
Grafton was selected because Of the close
ness to the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
tracks. the two principal car lines Of the
city, and the Capitol building. side
track $50 feet long will connect the site
with the main line Of the Baltimore and
Ohio. This is an important matter. he said.
because 1t would cost 81 per ton to transfer
the building material to any other site. He
read a letter from Morris Murphy. con-
tractor, saying that this site furnishes I'M
usual advantages for grading. and that the
gravel on II is valuable.
Mr.. Bankhead quoted Gen. Casey, chief
Of engineers, as saying that the grade Of
this lot is one Of its chief advantages. BY
obtain 10000 additional feet for the pur-
pose Of placing the great boilers and en-
gines. which should never be placed direct
ly under a building.
Mr. Bankhead also read a letter from
typographical Union. approving the site
chosen by the committee and expressing
their hearty satisfaction with 1t.
As to Railroad Influence.
Mr.. Hopkins was solicitous lest the loca-
ton OF this site might give the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad Company An undue ad-
vantage in the matter Of freight, and asked
IL it would afford that road a monopoly Of
carrying the freight.
Mr.. Bankhead replied that he thought
that matter would be settled by competi-
ton between the railroads: 1t usually is.
At any rate, the committee is not here to
look out for the railroads. The gentleman
from Illinois might be interested In the rail-
roads. but the committee was not.
Mr.. Hopkins resented this remark. and re-
piled to Mr.. Bankhead in a way to give
him the impression that possibly Mr.. Hop
kins meant to insinuate that the committee
was Influenced by a Railroad company In
selecting this site. at which Mr.. Bankhead
fired up.
There were mutual explanations. however
during which 1t was developed that neither
one meant to charge the other with being
innuerced by railroads II the other did
not charge him with 1t. Then the discus
' Mr.. Cram Of Texas asked IL it wSAld not
os more economical to tear down the pres
emit building. purchase more ground and
answer this question Mr.. Livingstone asked
him why q cheaper lot il not proposed.
Mr.. Bankhead replied that IL the cost were
the only question at issue. the government
y
q lot have been made but there would be
Disadvantages. In selecting q site for this
building the question Of q few thousand
dollars should not weigh against considera-
lions Of greater weight He said the Ms
hone site is right over the great Tiber sew
er, and the foundation Of the base ball lot
IL not secure. 1t might be necessary to put
in ptling in order to furnish q foundation.
Mr.. Bryan Of Nebraska said he desired to
call attention to the fact that every time 1t
Is proposed to erect a building here there Is
a contest between real estate agents as to
the site. Mr.. Bryan quickly showed what
his plan IL. He wants to use some Of the
parks. Use up some of the parks for this
purpose, he said, and II Il IL necessary to
have more parks then buy q site for a
park but do not buy q site for q printing
ONCE. s.
Mr. Bryan spoke of the unoccupied land
in the mall and thought it extravagant
that the government did not utilize II for
building purposes.
Opposed the Use of Parks.
Mr.. Milliken OF Maine said It has been
the policy Of the committee on public build
ings and grounds for years not to use the
city parks for public structures. II it is
once entered upon, the parks will soon be
used up. He pictured the necessity OF
keeping the parks intact as a sanitary
measure. to make life endurable in summer.
Members Of Congress, he said, appreciate
this when they are kept In Washington
over one summer. Mr.. Milliken would not
place public building In an of-the-
way place simply to save a few dollars in
the cost Of the site. The public buildings
are too scattered, anyhow. He favored the
site recommended by the committee.
FavorinE the Present Site.
Mr. Grain Of Texas urged the plan Of
using the present site Of the printing office
and condemning the land in the neighbor-
hood to furnish q site large enough for the
purpose. He called attention to the alleged
bankruptcy Of the treasury. and cast doubt
upon the policy Of mourning large expendi-
lures at this time.
Mr.. Bankhead said the committee does
not think 1t wise to erect q patchwork
building on the present site. and 1t would
he more expensive to follow Mr.. Grains
suggestion than to buy another site.
ut il utterly out of the question to put
printing office on that site" said Mr.. Bank
head.
Mr.. Grain charged that the price fixed for
the property OF the present site 10 excess
sive. because the owner thinks that the gov
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