The Washington times., 1894-07-06
1T WAS LOBBIED TO DEATH
Conflicting Interests Killed the Print
ing Office Bill.
MOST SITES WE'RE UNSUITABLE
Members Of Congress Admit the Necessity
for New Building, but Declare They
Don't Want to Arbitrats on the Claims
Of Different Real Estate Dealers.

Overmuch lobbying has practically killed
the bill for new government printing Office.
It may not be pleasant fact to admit, and 1t
may be extensively denied, but it Is neverthe-
less true. So many sites have been discussed,
and 30 many urged at price beyond what
they were worth, that Congress has become
disgusted and turned deaf ear to all propo-
sitions.
member of the House Committee on
Buildings and Grounds. who was unwilling to
have his name given, admitted yesterday
that the above statement represented the
truth.
"You cannot expect the House to take any
interest in proposals which involve the gov
ernment in buying undesirable pieces of land,
and those at an exorbitant price," he said
yesterday when questioned about the proba-
bility of securing new Government Printing
House this session. "Those advocating GER
tain lots have been more insistent than usual,
and it Is impossible to get Congressman, who
believe that the government ought to select a
proper piece OF land and then acquire it, to
listen to proposals which are certainly in
spired by friendship for others. do not say
there has been any corruption. do not be-
lieve that there has been any in the commit
tee. but have been visited repeatedly and
argued with by number OF lobbyists inter-
ested in advocating certain land. and in one
case by the owner himself. The government
cannot be party to such schemes. A private
Individual might buy land from friend at
little higher price If he disliKed the owner OF
the other piece. That ought not to apply in
government action"
This sentiment found expression in several
.t&1
general unwillingness to admit 1t in as plain
words as those used by the gentlemen quoted
above the arguments amounted to the same
thing.
DIDN'T WANT TO PAY EXCESSIVE PRICES.
The statement Is made fuither that while
the House instructed the committee to select
a public reservation for the site, 1t did not
make the recommendation because It favored
it, but simply because those urging such a
course objected to the government purchase
Of any undesirable plot at what was believed
to be an excessive price The insistance that
il any private plots are used they shall be
limited to certain ones known has deter
mined the obstructionists to absolutely block
any such proposition.
1t was stated as a further argument that
the constituents Of some Of the congressman
know perfectly well that the government
owns reservations in this city, and thought
that rather than pay such excessive sums for
unsuitable and really inconvenient lots they
would think the public reservations or some
part of them should be used: but it was
always added to this suggestion that the lots
were urged to benefit individuals, which be-
ing called by its real name means that there
has been over-much lobbying.
Mr.. Milliken, member of the Public Build
ings and Grounds Committee, said yesterday
that there was no doubt Of the undesirability
of most of the lots chosen, but denied any sus-
picion of wrongdoing. He did not deny that
the LOBBYISTS had been in evidence.
Mr.. Abbott, of Texas, another member of
the committee. said that there was no i'm
proper conduct of any Sort and that Congress
had no interest in the matter OF a government
printing house one way or the other. There
was no concurrence in this view of the case
so far as the interest is concerned, and every
member of Congress questioned admitted the
need for government printing house and its
prompt construction.
THE ARMoRY SQUARE SITE
Mr.. Brett, also member of the committee,
believes his bill, which provides for a site
near Sixth and B on the Armory square res
ervation. ought to prove acceptable. Other
members of the committee do not think so,
and one said there WAS no more propriety in
Washington than to plant one in Boston Com
mon or in Central Park in New York, and he
added that the House did not want that done,
nor the committee, nor the public. Mr.. Bretz
says If hr Bankhead, the chairman o. the
committee. does not return from Alabama
soon. he will take the responsibility, as the
author of the bill. of seeing the Speaker and
try to have u day appointed for its considera-
ton. He says that he is unwilling to run the
risk OF having human blood on his hands.
more practicable scheme inasmuch as it
was worked to secure theselection of site for
the new city post office, and succeeded after
seven years OF delay, is that of Mr.. Milliken,
of Maine. He proposed shortly to ask for
the appointment of two subcommittee, one
from the House and the other from the Sem
ate Public Buildings and Grounds Committee,
and the settlement of the question by them.
1t is said positively that Senator Vest,
the chairman OF the Senate committee. Is in
favor of this plan. 1t was stated yesterday
that If that course was not taken, Mr. Vest
would propose the condemnation of land ad-
joining the present building and an addition
to that structure, us rider to one of the
bills, probably that for the
District OF Columbia.
At any rate, there are some men who have
planned to put the bill through, If possible,
this session.