Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-08
PUBLIC RESERVATION
The House Says tho Printing Office
Must Occupy One.
FOR AND AGAINST USING PARKS
The General Debate Closes and
Amendments Received.
NEED FOR THE BUILDING

Il l. II
The House today resumed consideration
of the bill to provide a site and erect q
building for the government printing Of
fee.
Mr.. Grout of Vermont was the first
speaker. He admitted the necessity for the
immediate construction Of another building
to furnish accommodations for the en-
ployes Referring to the site proposed by
the committee he said it will eventually
cost 100000. probably. as there will be
much grading to do. OF course the location
If the site near the railroad line il point in
Its favor. He then reviewed the objections
urged against other lots and proposed sites.
together with the plan Of improving and
charging the present building. This plan
he was bitterly opposed to. There II very
ancient authority against mending an old
coat with new cloth or putting new wine
In old bottles. The old building would be q
constant menace to the new one.
MT. Grant had q plan Of his own. 1t Is q
iot three squares south Of the Capitol adj
Joining New Jersey avenue. Part Of the lot
Is now occupied by fourteen three-story brick
dwellings,, which would rent for enough to
pay per cent on the governments invest
ment. He did not describe the site further
than to say it contains 49, 900 square feet.
one OF the main arguments in favor of
the site which Mr.. Grout urged was that
this lot would prevent the government be-
Ing subjected to the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company's monopoly of the freight
business as this lot Is close to the tracks Of
three great railroad companies, the Chesa-
peake and Ohio, the Richmond and Dam
Vile and the Pennsylvania company. He
Gid not add. however, that the tracks be-
long to the Pennsylvania company, and that
the other two companies only have a traf-
nc arrangement on this portion Of the line
Tor the passage of their through passenger
cars for New York. He urged this site as
one OF healthfulness and gave statistics Of
mortality on the lots north Of the Capitol
Mr.. Hopkins Objects.
Mr. Hopkins of Illinois said the site pro-
posed by the committee is the worst one of
all. He referred to the cost Of grading, the
uncertainty Of a gravel foundation and the
cost Of removal of the fire engine house and
the Senate stables He thought the lot
would be too small for the purpose. 1t il
too close to the Baltimore and Ohio depot.
He could not see how II would be possible
to put in side tracks, as the basement of the
new building would be fifteen feet above the
railroad. Mr.. Hopkins feared that the en-
pioyes or the office would be endangered
In crossing the railroad tracks to get to the
building. The structure would be in danger
from the sparks from the locomotives enter
ing the depot, and the noise, steam and
Mr.. Hopkins said the Senate is already
committed to the Malone site, and has
passed the bill. and he thought 1t would be
wise to accept that bill and let the govern
ment get to work on a building He denied
that the Tiber sewer passes through the iot.
and said the maps are wrong which show
that Ii does He urged Immediate action
and said that If the Malone lot Is not ac-
Congress.
Mr.. Bryan of Nebraska was not willing to
concede that the Senate's action should
controi the House Mr. Bryan quickly dis
closed his plan. His idea Is to use the land
which the government owns He wants to
gobble one of the parks.
He said he had been looking at the park
between IL and 9Th and B streets and the
fish commission. He maintained that this
park would never be missed. No one really
needs 1t, he said. He then descanted glow
ingly upon the advantages Of the site. and
dwelt particularly upon the necessity of
economy. He said the site proposed by the
committee Is from 500 GOO to si5o, 600 HIGHER
than the land around it. 1t Is not available
Tor building purposes. and he thought It
would not sell for 30 cents a square foot If
placed on the market. Land which il worth
more In the market can be bought for less
money than the proposed site.
Garfield Park.
Mr. Springer Of Illinois had a plan also
for utilizing one Of the parks. He had Sc
lected Garfield Park the victim. This
is the only piece of parking in South WASH
ington between the navy yard and the mall.
1t is three squares south Of the Capitol and
just north of the Pennsylvania railroad
tracks.
Mr. Abbott suggested that this is very low
ground and but few feet above tide water
1t lies along an old canal and the ground is
very unstable.
MrSpringer maintained that the ground il
high enough to furnish a good Foundation
and ne then proceeded to describe its ad-
vantages. He was interrupted by Mr.. Mil
liken, who suggested that members having
business at the printing Office would either
have to walk or hire a cab. as it is not to
be reached by street car line.
Mr. COMBS of New York, who was yielded
two minutes. objected to any site which
would tend to further scatter and separate
the public buildings of the city. He would
consolidate the public buildings. Mr. Coombs
Mr.. Abbott of Texas objected to the Ma
hone lot and the base ball park on account
OF their remoteness and inaccessibility. AS
to Garfield Park. the committee had been
advised by Col. Wilson that this location
would be very unhealthy one. Sometimes
the land Is overlooked and 1t Is too close to
the river.
Defending the Committee.
Mr.. Bankhead desired to refute the state
ments made by Mr.. Hopkins and Mr. Hep
burn as to the cost Of grading the site
proposed by the committee.
Il was told last night by Gen. Casey, who
called at my hotel. that he would undertake
to grade this lot and prepare 1t for foun-
dalton for $4,000" said Mr.. Bankhead
What has Gen. Casey got to do with
lobbying for a lot?' asked Mr.. Hopkins Of
Illinois.
He is not lobbying" answered Mr. Banx-
head, he answered a question which
asked him." Mr.. Bankhead contended that
the building can be constructed more cheap
Iy on this lot than anywhere else. That
the site can be prepared for a foundation
more cheaply than any other, and, in fact
the material on 1t would pay for the work
Thousands of dollars can be saved yearly
in the cost Of transportation Of supplies
General debate on the bill having expired,
the reading of the bill by sections was COM
menced Mr.. Kilgore Of Texas offered a
pro forma amendment for the purpose of
having read at the clerks desk a speech
made in a former Congress by Mr. Randall
favoring the use Of the city parks for pub
lie buildings.
Upon motion OF Mr.. Bankhead an amend
ment was agreed upon striking out the limit
of cost of the building and the appropria-
ton and inserting provision that before
work should commence the Secretary of the
Interior shall submit to Congress a plan for
the completion of a suitable building and an
estimate Of the cost.
Public Park Proposition.
Mr.. Bryan offered an amendment proytd-
ing for a commission, to consist Of the Sec
49, IT,.