Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-29
THE HALL OF RECORDS.
No Action Taken Because Of the Lack
of a Quorum.

The House yesterday afternoon refused to
act on the bill to provide the United States
with q storage room for its records, Mr..
Baker Of New Hampshire preventing action
by raising the point Of no quorum. There
was considerable debate upon the bill. dur
ing which some members manifested a dis
position to intimate that this building would
be for the benefit Of the District. but Chair
man Bankhead explained that this Is not
District BILL but is one In which the District
is not in the least interested. He called
their attention to the fact that this building
Is for the accommodation Of Congress and
the departments for the storage OF valuable
records.
Mr. Bryan Of Nebraska wanted to reduce
the price Of the lots to S115.OOO, and was
supported by Mr.. Baker of New Hampshire,
who maintained that the price proposed to
be pad by the committee Is excessive. Mr..
Bankhead said the property cannot be
bought at this figure, and offered to strike
out the price and permit the lots to be ac-
quired by condemnation. Several members
INDUCED in criticisms upon the committee
Until, finally. Mr.. Northway of Ohio. a re-
publican. and not a member of the commit
tee, came to the rescue.
Mr.. Northway's Experience.
Il want to call the attention Of the COM
mittee to what I believe to be wrong
policy we are pursuing" said Mr.. North
cussing the question Of the selection Of a
site for the erection Of a new government
printing office. took sides against the re-
port of the committee and voted to locate
the building upon public ground. After l
had done 50 1t occurred to me that perhaps
l had not been wise as l ought to have
been as a legislator. and then l took occa-
sion to inform myself. / tramped over the
public grounds myself great deal. and l
made up my mind, after having tramped
this matter than did and that / had done
an unwise thing in voting against its recon-
mendation. l came back to the House and
examined the membership Of that commit
tee and saw no reason why We should not
have confidence that they would do an hon
est and wise thing. l looked over the con-
stitution of the committee. and / thought
that the House ought to follow the advice
of that committee.
III we are going to put up any public
buildings we have to follow the lead of
somebody. 1t Is admitted that We need this
building. / do not know. l take 1t for
granted that we do need il. Now, / want
TO call the attention of the committee to the
fact that We are going to do an unwise
thing II We stand up here and repudiate
everything that the committee recommends.
AS wise men, 1t seems to me, must fol-
low that committee We do other commit
tees. and i do not see why We cannot do SO
after they have made their examination.
A Fair Proposition.
Now, the chairman makes a fair propo-
sition. He moves to strike out all the
figures and leave the Secretary power
to condemn. 1 think we ought to compro-
mise on that. We cannot stand here and
fight in this way. That will not do, and
ought to acknowledge that fact. l think it
Is wrong l cannot carry out my idea OF
what property ought to be bought. 1t is not
wise that l should attempt 1t. The commit
tee has done hard work in this matter. and
l submit that it is The part of wisdom on
the part of this committee to stand by the
committee having this matter in charge.
Let US strike out the S2IJ,OU and accept the
proposition made by the chairman of the
committee, leaving It alone with the Secre-
tary OF the Treasury to fight this thing and
condemn the property. If we are to have
this building, let us have it, and get rid of
cur personal feelings in this matter"
The Point of No Quorum
Mr.. Bryan insisted upon his amendment
and the vote was 40 ayes and ~ nays Mr.
Baker would not accept this defeat how
ever, and raised the point of no quorum
Whereupon the House adjourned.