Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-14
For a Municipal Building on judi
ciary Square.
SENATE DISTRICT COMMITTEES ACTION
There is a Good Chance of the
Bill Passing.
PROVISIONS OF THE MEASURE

There was a brief meeting OF the District
committee Of the Senate today, but a most
important action was taken, which may
result in a speedy consideration Of the bill
for a new municipal building in this city.
Senator Faulkner. on the subcommittee
having charge of the bill, reported meas
ure from the subcommittee which was the
result of a meeting held late yesterday
afternoon. The bill retains the Judiciary
Square site and raises the cost Of the build
Ing from 81 500 600 to s., 5OO,OOO There was
a short discussion of the merits of the bill
by the members Of the full committee, and
it was unanimously decided that Senator
Faulkner should be elected to report the
bill favorably to the Senate on Monday.
Provisions of the Dill.
The bill provides in the first section that
there shall be constructed freproof build
ing for the accommodation of the municipal
Offices and courts of the District on the site
of the present city hall and such addi-
tional grounds may be necessary.
The building is to be erected according to
plans to be approved by a commission con-
sisting of General Thomas l.. Casey, chief
OF engineers of the army, the Engineer
Commissioner OF the District and the su-
pervising architect of the treasury. The
building snail not cost more than $2,JUO,-
600. one-half of which shall be charged to
the District.
The second section provides that the
commission shall invite proposals for de-
sign and estimates by advertising in Wash
iTgton, New York, boston and Chicago,
and the best design shall be accepted and
the architect submitting 1t shall be paid
5000 for the plan and employed to pre-
pare such other drawings as shall be want
ed from time to time.
The third section appropriates 100000
for the commencement of the work, in
Guiding the removal of the present build
ing.
The fourth section provides that all labor
shall be done by contract or days work.
as the commission shall decide, and the
construction OF the building shall be under
the control and supervision of the COM
mission
A new section, numbered 5, was inserted
by the subcommittee, providing that the
amount appropriated shall be drawn from
the treasury upon the warrant of the Com
mis3iOners OF the District based upon the
certificates. of the commission as the
amount expended by it.
What Committee Members Say.
Senator Faulkner, speaking to Star re-
porter after the meeting, said that he has
insisted that Gen. Casey be made a MEM
Der of the commission and named person
ally so that he might be employed person.
ally after his retirement from the active
list of the army. He added that he would
never consent to the erection of the build
ings in Washington in future without the
advice or supervision of Gen. Casey being
provided for as long as that officer might
remain alive.
Senator Mcmillan said that he believed
that there was more than fair chance
for the bill, as thus framed, to be passed
this session. He thinks it has SO been
amended that all objections that have
been raised to it by economists and others
have been met.
There is no row to be apprehended as to
the selection of the Site" he said, "and
the economists cannot complain that there
is job in the location of the building.
The bill has now been before Congress in
one shape or another for so many years
that IL is high time that some action should
be finally taken. l made personal in
spection of Judiciary Square last evening
and II certainly seems to me that a fine
building, such can be erected for the
amount named in the bill, will be a mar
VeiouS Improvement to Washington. The
rent ron of the District should convince
anybody of the need Of a new building
The municipal bureau and offices are scat
tered all over town in rented quarters and
there is hardly any branch of the local
government under public roof. The an
nual rentals Of these quarters make
startling sum and aggregate more than
the legal interest on such an investment
as is proposed by this BILL