The Washington times., 1894-08-01
MAHONE LOT TO Be BOUGHT
Senate Votes In Favor of It as Print
ing Office Site.
COST NOT TO EXCEED $25O.O00
Manderson Comments on the Remarkable
Persistsncy Of These Who Pushed the
Project-Attsmpts to Secure Action on
. Other Sites Opposed and Voted Down.

The Senate yesterday afternoon. after 4one
and animated debate, adopted the COMMITTEES
amendment to the sundry civil bill, providing
for the purchase or condemnation of the
Malone lot for Government Printing Onice
at a cost not to exceed $3.50. 900.
The lot is the south half of square 67S, con.
tains about 21S, SIS square feet, and is located
on North Capitol and streets. There is an
interesting piece OF history in the way the
Malone men worked their plan. As matter
of fact the committee amendment" as it is
termed, is nothing more or less than the bill
introduced by Senator Quay last August for
the purchase of the Malone lot, some months
ago. Senator Quay's relations with the Com
mittee on Public Buildings and Grounds are
very cordial and this accounts for the fact
that the committee favored the project.
When the amendment was reached yester-
day afternoon, Senator Manderson arose and
made n motion on behalf of Senator Roach,
OF North Dakota, to strike out the committee
amendment and substitute for it paragraph
instructing the Secretary of the Treasury to
purchase lots 8, 4, 5, s. Z, and ofsquare 67s
being the west half of the so-called baseball
lot, or in case of failure to purchase to au-
thorize the Attorney General to acquire the
same by condemnation. The amount to be
expended was less than the appropriation OF
S250,000.
PERsIsTENcY OF THE ADVOCATES.
Senator Manderson in urging the adoption
Of the substitute commented on the remark
able persistency of the Malone lot advocates.
1t commanded, he said, his admiration and
respect. Not because of any resulting good to
the government. but for the remarkable
frien dship it showed for Gen. Malone. The
lot was utterly unfit for the purpose. The
price was far beyond its value. The baseball
lot, on the other hand, was close to the Capt.
tol and in every respect more suitable. 1t
was sufficient in size. 1t was near the rail-
way cars, with strong probability that this
condition would not be interfered with. He
thought it strange that this sudden action was
taken in the absence Of Chairman Vest, of the
Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds.
Senator Manderson then declared that the
cost of obtaining additional land near the
present site was excessive, and that Congress
would never permit the railroad tracks to
cross North Capitol street. 1--WE ought" said
Senator Manderson, in conclusion, 'to have
a Government Printing Office where lives are
safe. l am almost ready to accept anything.
But protest that the government should not
be influenced by any other motive than to get
the best site for the purpose. Several years
ago the special commission. consisting of Sec
retary Window. Architect Clarke. of the Cap
Itol, and the then Public Printer, Mr.. Palmer,
were in favor Of the baseball lot. 1t was time
the site were chosen. and hope it will be Sc
lected." Senator Hawley also advocated the
baseball lot.
FIRST MAHoNEITE IN THE FRAY.
Senator Teller was the first Mahoneite in
the fray. He said the persistency for the
Malone lot was not so remarkable at the per-
sistency for the baseball lot. 1t was 10000
feet short of what every Public Printer
thought necessary. The baseball lot had
been twice voted down by the Senate already.
He thought II there was anything mysterious
and anomalo US in Congressional life it was
the opposition of the Senator to the Malone
OF. 1t was sixteen feet higher, nearly so per
cent. cheaper in view of its value, and II the
building were put on the baseball lot it would
have to be extendediright up to the building
line.
On the suggestion that Senator Teller was
and was referring to the johnson
lot, Senator Teller admitted his mistake, but
said that it was equally true of the baseball
lot. II assert there never was presented but
one lot, that suggested by Mr.. Carey, of Wy
oming, (the Carroll LOTT, that had anything
like the advantages"
Senator Cullom stated that the Committee
on Public Buildings and Grounds had passed
on the bill and the Appropriations Committee
had passed on 1t. Every one was anxious
that site should be selected and the opposi-
tion ought not to be continued.
Senator German, the chairman OF the Print
ing Committee, then stated he could not sup
port the demand for the Malone lot or the
baseball lot. He was gratifled at the efforts
IN tho li,-ng md baolth of tIa
but he believed the proper course to secure
relief would be to purchase land
adjoining the present site.
Senator CocKrell, chairman of the Appro- |
oriations Committee, agreed with Senator
iorman, and stated that the amendment |
,ught not to have been attached to the bill, |
md that the site;report was not unanimous |
,ut bare majority.
MR.. GALLINGER's PROPOSITION.
Senator Gallinger was of the same opinion |
nd offered an amendment to be consid- |
red later providing for an appropriation |
lot to be more than the s250, 900 for the |
purchase Of part of square 634, contiguous to
he present printing office. He said the Ma
one lot was filed land. Senator Teller de-
lied it. and Senator Manderson suggested |
hat part was not filed land which the build
ng was to cover. "No, nor which the pur-
hase is to cover either,' retorted Senator
elier.
Senator Gallinger then laughed at the talk
bout railroad facilities at the baseball lot |
nd said not only would the cinders damage
ne paper, but inasmuch as the Baltimore and
hio carried but small fraction of the
eight, and the larger part was moved by
ater or the Pennsylvania road, that this al
'ged advantage would amount to little un-
,ss there was to be monopoly for the Balti-
lore and Ohio.
Senator Sherman, an old friend of Malone,
len made a brief appeal for the Malone lot
enator Mandersop then criticised Senator
allinger's point about railway monopoly,
rguing that the cars could go to any other
abroad over the Baltimore and Ohio tracks.
would be a saving to the government in
eight. Senator Hale thought the matter