Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-11

The tentative proposition-rapidly assum-
shape in the House of Representatives,
remove the Baltimore and Potomac rail-
read station from the government reserva-
ton which 1t now occupies and to erect In
its place a Government Printing ONCE build
ing Is one that will at least bear discussion,
although friends Of the railroad are already
cLltivating hoarseness by their efforts to
show how thoroughly unfit is the site men,
toned for the new building in question.
washingtoniars are unqualifiedly opposed
20 any intrusion upon the parks, for the
parks are in the front rank OF the attrac-
lions that make this city 50 much more
desirable than any other American city
place Of residence; and Congress will soon
find out, IL it is not already in possession
OF the information, that local sentiment is
unanimously favorable to letting the parks
alone But il the Senate should see fit to
endorse the action OF the House and join
with itS coordinate branch in declaring
t1espass upon lands held in trust for park
purposes to be anything but an offense,
then there would be popular agreement
with the suggestion that the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company should be compelled to
get off the ground which 1t has for so long a
time occupied. rent-free. When 1t was
granted the use of the mall, power Of repeal
vas reserved 10 Congress for the express
and avowed purpose of effecting the roads
removal from the public property when the
land should be needed for park or other
purposes. This date has long passed But
the road has eldeavored to make its tenn
parary tenure permanent, in violation of
the understanding under which it occupied
the mall. The government has no moral
right to put up a building upon ground
saaIx- rf far rN1rrr 4
does so it is guilty of breach of trust. But
when choice has to be made between two
evils-and there is possibility that selection
ray soon have TO be made-but few of those
who have any real right to speak will be
found on the side of the railroad company.
Nothing less than a very vivid Imagination,
and that OF perverted variety, could con-
ceive of Government Printing Office build
q ing that would improve the appearance of
the mall: soli1ity and tall, smoke-vomiting
chimney-stacks would be it's most con-
spicuous features, and while it might be
made exteriorly beautiful the probabilities
are that it would be as unattractive archi-
tecturally as that other building in public
park-the Pension Office. Yet had it no
more of the esthetic in it's outward ap-
pearance than the barn-like mass of brick
in Judiciary Square. it would be preferable
to the station and the tracks which now.
through the neglect of Congress to exercise
wisely its undoubted powers, still spoil most
effectually what by the city's designer
intended to be a magnificent stretch OF
verdure from the Capitol to the Potomac.
A government building on the station-site
might be an eyesore and would continually
annoy those who insist that there shall be
no interference with the parking plan, but
II would be much less annoying and in
furious than a continuation of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroads tenancy. 1t is to be hoped
that the House and Senate will not permit
the troublesome activity of a few lobbyists
to interfere with the original and proper
idea of purchasing a suitable printing Office
site, but IL there should be failure to
agree, and Congress continues to in
sist upon its right to subdivide parks
irto building lots, no better place for
a printing office could possibly be found
than that portion of the public park
which has already been diverted by the
government from the uses to which IL
was implicitly pledged when it was secured
from the original proprietors of the SOIL
become a squatter, 1t announced its willing
ness to move away whenever the necessity
for the moving should arise. If Congress
announces to the corporation that the time
TO move is at hand. and utilities the vacant
site for public building purposes it will
palliate its new breach of trust by remedy
ing one wrong while committing another