The Washington times., 1894-07-07
OUR NEED IS APPRECIATED.
New District Building Favored by the
House Committee.
BILL NOT TO BE CALLED Ur NOW
It Il Intended to Prsvids Also for the Ae-
commodation Of the Courts Present Build
ing Declared to Be Unsaitsd, Insecure,
and Unhealthful

A report on the bill to appropriate e1, SOC, :
600 for the construction Of municipal build
ing for the District was submitted to the
House yesterday by Mr.. Abbott, from the
Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds.
This is a substitute for the bill Introduced
IN March by Mr.. Bankhead. and - the latter
gentleman is in A s)ama, 1t is said no effort
will be made to call up the billat this session.
Among other things the report says:
I'm the bill which this substitute is designed
to replace provision is proposed for new
building for the accommodation Of the munich
pal government of the District OF Columbia
only. but the substitute is intended to provide
| new accommodation for the courts OF the Dis
| trict Also
"rhe buildings now occupied by the courts
and the municipal government are unsuited
to the purposes for which they are used. The
business OF the courts would require for ito
proper transaction nearly twice the floor
space this building affords. The construction
OF the building will not safely permit its use
as substructure for an enlargement.
NEED CANNOT BE QUESTIONED.
"The extreme need OF the municipal au-
thorities for better official quarters cannot be
reasonably questioned. The present accom-
modations are limited, inconvenienty ar
ranged. insecure. and unhealthful. The
u ldiug in which the offices OF the Commis-
sioneis AMI other officials are located Is
crowded beyond the limit OF heaithfulness for
the convenient transaction Of business, and is
unsafe both with respect to structural char
acter and innammability.
Its occupants are in constant danger ofper-
sonai injury from its structural defects, and
III, rep0 Ydg q " aad n afrua hv I'm
and fire. 1t Is located Immediately ovef one
OF the largest and foulest sewe-s In the city
exceptionally noxious ut this the lowest point
OF its course, where the offensive contents
swing back and forth pending their gradual
and intermittent removal by the action OF sue
cessive rides. The walls Of part Of the build
ing are so thin Al d the construction so def
cieDt that many OF the rooms In the more
exposed portions are rendered almost unin-
habitable by the extreme cold In Winter and
the heat in Summer.
''The records OF the municipal government
In the District since 1902 are stored in this
building. These records include all Of the
original ordinances and appropriations Of
those governments. Many of these records
are invaluable historically. and in connection
with titles to property and the due enforce
ment OF the laws.
HISDRAScE OF WORK.
"The accommodations In the building for the
public who visit on business are as deficient
as those for the employees. Not only are the
accommodations in the main building insufii-
cient for those occupying 1t, but many OF the
apartments OF the District government are To-
Gated in separate and remote buildings much
to the hindrance OF work, the einconvenience OF
the public and increase Of expense ="
A table is then given, which shows the pres-
ent floor space in the District building to be
Al ,S66 feet. and in the City Hall 78,842 The
space required is 96, sos feet for the District
government and l42, 800 feet for the court
house. The rent paid amounts to SIS, $50.
In conclusion the report says:
at is discreditable to the nation that the
municipal government a, Its capital is
obliged to resort to the use OF rented and uu-
sanitary buildings for office purposes. The
reputation Of the general government is at
stake. The government Of the District OF
Columbia is a necessary agency Of the general
government, and inseparably connected with
it for honor or disgrace in this matter.
'The found srs OF the republic intended that
its capital should In all things be model for |
all other cities. and your committee believes
that Congress viii be broad and patriotic |
enough to make provision for home for the |
municipal government and the courts at the |
national capital in keeping with that magnifi- |
cent idea"