The Washington times., 1894-03-23
DICKER ABOUT REAL ESTATE
Choice Of Government Printing House
Site Discussed in the Senate.
MAHONE LOT ADVOCATES AHEAD
In the Meantime the Lives Of Nearly Three
Thousand Government Employees Are Be-
ing Endangered by Delay-Whole Ques-
ton Opened for Reconsideration.

Senator Vest brought up his bill for the
erection Of a Government Printing Office
building in the Senate yesterday. He de-
clared that there was great urgency in the
matter, and that as 1t would take from three
to five years to construct the building, and in
the meantime the {, 500 or 5000 employees Of
the Off ce were kept in an office wholly un-
suitable and dangerous to life, the Senate
should permit no further delay. By the
plan he proposed there will only be re-
quired six months for the erection of build
ing, whereas otherwise several years would be
required. This, and this alone, explained the
change in his attitude in recommending the
use of the lot adjoining the present office.
Senator Stewart interposed that he was
earnestly in favor Of the immediate construc-
ton of such an Office, andtherefore he favored
the selection of the Malone site on North
Capitol and NJ streets. The work of the Office
could be continued without interruption If
this lot were chosen. In answer to a question
from Senator Butler, Senator Stewart ex-
planned that it would be difficult to work in
the present printing office If the erection OF
an additional building were begun next to it.
Senator Vest in reply read letter from
the Public Printer and Senator German,
chairman of the Senate Committee on Print
ing advocating the construction of a building
that could be erected in six months, the pres
ent building to DO torn down at that time.
The Missouri Senator said that IL Sem
ators refused to agree to the presen. lot and
the committee plan. they must assume the
risk of life or injury to the employees during
the year they would be Kept in the present
L. hail
further declared that no understanding favor
ing this lot could possibly be arrived at with
the House of Representatives.
Senator Carey offered an amendment sub
stituting the so-called Carroll plot for that
mentioned In the bill
Senator Quay objected that the report pre-
sented by Mr.. Vest was not supported by all
the committee.
Senator Henderson said the Committee on
Printing had known and worried over the
condition OF the building, and he was glad
now that the bill had come into charge of the
Committee on Public Grounds and Buildings.
He thought the present building, propped up.
as it now is, was more dangerous than Fords
theater after the excavations were made. The
best work that had been done was that by the
commission, which had considered the matter
and reported unanimously in favor of the
change some time ago. The lot suggested
was the old baseball lot, vacant to-day as then,
and it was the best one that could be chosen
now. He deprecated the disreputable efforts
OF real estate agents to make money out
of the job, and declared it was they who were
precipitating the present fight in both houses
of Congress. He had lost his preference
to have any particular location chosen
because Of his anxiety for the lives of the en-
ployes in the present building. Senator Man
derson, in reply to a question from Senator
Harris. stated the prices of lots suggested by
him near the baseball lot including the John
son lot, which varied from S106. 900 up. The
Nebraska Senator would be glad to help the
gentleman CMr. Mahone) who was the owner
of the lot. whose purchase was urged by Sem
ator Quay if his lot were the most desirable.
but it was not in size or shape and would be
less SO when the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
consolidated its two branches, depriving
the Malone lot Of its proximity to rail trans
portation.
Senator German spoke in favor of Senator
Vests proposition. urging that land adjacent
be acquired and a building erected thereon.
He declared that any business man in the Sem
ate or out OF it would pursue the same course.
Senator Carey explained that for the price
(Sl75000) asked for the land adjoining the
present printing office fully twice as much
land could be acquired elsewhere. He thought |
il did not make so much difference who owned
the lot
The amendment to Senator Vests bill, pro-
then voted on and carried. % to 30 but mo-
ton of Senator Harris was allowed REQ pening
of the vote.