The Washington times., 1894-05-09
GOVERNMENT PRINTING SITE.
Location to Be Selected by Committee on
Buildings and Grounds.

Location to Be Selected by Committee on
Buildings and Grounds.
Chairman Bankhead called up the printing
office bill in the House yesterday noon and
endeavored to push the question to some end,
but the result was an ignominous failure.
The House Immediately went into Commit
tee of the Whole, with Mr.. Bynum in the
chair. Mr.. Grout, of Vermont, then began
a vigorous attack on the site selected by the
Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds,
declaring for the Carroll property on New
Jersey avenue. south of the Capitol.
Mr.. Hopkins, of Illinois, thought the site
proposed by the committee the worst posi-
BILE, and said that inasmuch as the Senate had
already declared for the Malone lot, the best
plan would be to accept that and let the gov
ernment get to work as soon as possible and
erect the building.
Mr. Bryan of Nebraska intimated that the
House ought not to be influenced in its actions
by the Senate and soon stated his belief that
the part between Four-and-a-half and Sixth
streets and B and the Fish Commission would
do very WE'LL and at the same time would not
be missed.
Then Mr.. Springer declared his cruel desire
to lay hands on Garfield Park.
Mr. Coombs. of New York. said he would
oppose any proposition which would tend to
further separate the public buildings.
After some further discussion, debate was
closed. and the bill was read by paragraphs
for amendment.
Mr. Bankhead offered an amendment strik-
ing out the clause that the cost OF the building
should not exceed q, 500 900. and inserting in
lieu OF it the provision that before any work IS
done on said building a suitable plan for the
entire structure should be drawn up, giving
an estimate OF its cost, the same to be sub
mitted to Congress at the earliest possible
time. The amendment was agreed to.
Mr. BRYAN Dem. Neb. offered an amend
ment striking out the provision for the pur-
chase Of the lot recommended by the commit
tee, and to insert in place of it provision for
the appointment OF commission. to consist of
the Secretary Of the Treasury, the Secretary of
the Interior. and the Public Printer, to select
a site for the printing Office, to be located on
land now owned by the United States.
Mr. Coombs Dem, n. y offered an
amendment to the amendment OF Mr. Bryan
striking out the clause for the selection of a
site on ground now owned by the government
and to insert the provision that the commits
sion should recommend to Congress plan by
which the future buildings for the use of the
various departments Of the government
should be located with a view to greater con-
venience and uniformity. He recommended,
in line with this amendment, the purchase of
portion of the south side Of Pennsylvania
avenue.
ton that the pending bill be recommitted TO
the Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds. with instructions to amend it so as
to provide for the erection of public print
ing office on ground now owned by the gov
ernment.
A vote was first taken on the amendment Of
Mr.. Coombs, and it was defeated.
Mr.. Warner (Oem.. n. Y. J, in speaking on
the amendment Of Mr.. Bryan, opposed the
delegation to special committee Of the duties
which belonged to the Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds.
Mr. Williams Dem. ILL., spoke in favor of
referring the bill back to the Committee on
Public Building and Grounds.
Mr.. Grain (Dem., Texas) offered an amend
ment to the amendment OF Mr.. Bryan by
which the commits sion should have the choice,
not only of the public reservations in the city
but of all other property.
Mr.. Holman offered an amendment provid-
ing that the Committee on Public Building
and Grounds be instituted a commission to
select a site for the printing Office on the
ground now owned by the government.
Mr.. Bankhead opposed the amendment,
and preferred that if the question was to be
EeIerrcu 10 u COulIuisSiOA IL Hdu ptttcT Dc
taken out of the hands of the Committee on
Public Buildings and Grounds altogether.
In spite of his protest, however, the
amendment was agreed to BY vote Of 104
to so.
The House was soon scene Of turmoil and
uproar. Half dozen members we're on their
feet clamoring for recognition In order to
present amendments, parliamentary inquiries
and every other motion known in parlia-
mentary tactics.
Finally Mr.. Bankhead moved that the
committee rise and report the bill as amended
to the House. which the chairman ruled out,
on the ground that the bill could not be re-
ported until 1t had been read in full in COM
mittee. When order was finally secured out
Of the chaos the remaining sections OF the Dill
were read and each paragraph as read was
struck out.
By this action of the House the Committee
on Public Buildings and Grounds Is consti-
tuted q commission to select site In some
public park for the erection OF printing
ONCE, and all further questions rs to the erec-
ton Of q printing Office is left in abeyance as
far Is the House Ii concerned.
At 8.42 the committee rose, and the bill as