Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-15
The House Committee Agrees Upon
a Plan for One.
fOBE ERECTED ON JUDICIARY SQUARE
The Courts and District Offices
to Be Located in Il.
FAVORED BY SENATORS

The House committee on public buildings
and grounds today took action upon the
matter OF a municipal building for this city.
1t was decided that the United States and
the District Of Columbia shall enter into a
copartnership in the erection OF a building.
each contributing one-half the expense
thereof. and to occupy the building Jointly.
for the accommodation alike of the United
States courts and the city government
The committee authorized Chairman
Bankhead to prepare bill appropriating
S.JOo.OOO. one-half to be appropriated out
of the revenues Of the District of Columbia.
for the erection of a building which viii
accommodate all Of the offices OF the Dis
trict government and all the Offices now ic-
Gated in the City Hall. Ii is proposed to
demolish the old City Hall and TO use that
site with as much of Judiciary Square as
may be necessary for the new structure.
1t is the purpose of the committee TO pro-
vide a building which will be credit to the
government and which will nil all the re-
quirements which may be made in the fU-
ture.
Every branch Of the city government
from the poundmasters office to the District
Commissioners and including the United
States attorney and all the courts will be
gathered under one roof in a central 10
cation.
Chairman Bankhead will prepare a report
| in few days and the bill will be called up
| at the first opportunity.
The senate Will Favor the Project.
The project embodied in the bill OF the
House committee on public buildings AMI
grounds for a new municipal building. 10
| contain both city offices and the court To-
Gated on the present site of the city hall.
on Judiciary Square. will undoubtedly re-
ceive favorable consideration in the Senate
should IL be passed by the House. From q
a
seemed apparent to The Star that the
scheme thus outlined promises to be popu-
lar among the members OF the upper mouse
for two reasons. First. IL Involves a mini
NUN expenditure, because il provides for
the purchase OF no site. and seco1c. be-
cause IL solves the old problem of providing
for new city building and a new court
house. both of which are badly needed.
The scheme of placing the building on land
already owned is almost sure to commend
| itself to the Senate committee On public
buildings and grounds. the members OF
which are. as a rule. shy CT appropristing
money for purchasing sites at this time.
II said this afternoon by cne IN au-
thority that probably this bin would have
through the committee and through tie
Senate. than any other which has yet been
proposed
senator Gallinger's Views.
Star reporter spoke 10 several Senators
about the bill. outlined its provisions. and
| asked them their opinions concerning Il.
So far as it went, the result was a unani-
nous verdict in favor Of the measure. Sen
ator Gallinger, a member of the District
committee. said: This is an entirely new
View OF the situation, but At first glance it
strikes me very favorably. I am opposed TO
putting any more buildings on Judiciary
Square, which is sufficiently occupied now
oy structures; But this bill seems to pro-
vide for a building that will cover very nt-
tie more than the space now occupied by
the old city hall. but 1 can see no res SON
why the new building should not be To-
Gated there. IL is certainly a good site,
and of course a very cheap one. We GER
tainly should have a new building here for
the city offices. and IL does not strike me
that there would be any difficulty caused
by partnership between the District of
columbia and the general government In
the occupation OF this building PRESUME
ing That the present arrangement as to tax
aton ana appropriation is TO be continued
and see no reason why IL should not be-
there viii probably never come a time when
such a partnership would in any way en-
oarfass either party TO the arrangement
Should such time come, however a dissolu-
tion OF partnership could be easily effected
IN this, as well as in other matters. I
think should be in favor of the bill"
/ Mr.. Pasco Sees No Objection.
Senator Pasco. who until recently was O
member Of the committee on public builc-
ings and grounds. said: Il can see no OBJ
lection to such legislation. Certainly the
site is good. and this seems 10 be q good
solution of a very difficult problem I have
not of late kept up with this proposition
no doubt OF its need and do not see why
the proposed combination building woui3
not be successful and economical"
Mr.. Mcmillan Approves IL.
Senator Mcmillan OF the District commit.
tee has long been a firm advocate Of a new
city building. When the bill was outlined
to him he said enthusiastically: TT In n
good idea. That would be an ideal sits fos
the building. and IL they could only build 10
big enough with a million and a half DOL
lars IL could be made an ideal building for
city ana court purposes. i have always op-
posed the idea OF putting the municipal
building on the triangular space In frope
OF the market, and / am glad to see that
the house committee has decided 10 abap-
don this project / think that the present
city hall is located very centrally. and 10
| culties arising from the partnership be-
tween the District and the government.
IL 10 . Good scheme.
Senator Gibson. also OF the District com.
mittee. said: That is a good scheme. Such
a building as that ought to have been built
there long ago. / am not on the committee
on public buildings and grounds. but II I
were should vote for such a bin. Az a ,s
| SAAoi NC W support tne Dill III II COmen
from the House In that shape"
Senator Carey. a member OF the commit
tee on public buildings and grounds aid:
II am very heartily in favor OF a new pub-
lie building for the city of Washington.
nave long ago been convinced that such \
puloing is a necessity. There ought 10 be
no more delay In constructing Il. and this
proposition seems designed TO cause q
speedy erection of the building As at pres
ent informed. 1 can see no objection what
ever TO the site chosen by the House COM
mittee."