Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-15
AN OFFICIAL HOME
For the District Government, Now
in Rented Quarters.
REPRESENTATIVE OPINIONS EXPRESSED
The Commissioners, Board of Trade,
Builders Exchange
BEFORE HOUSE COMMITTEE

The House committee on public building.
and grounds this morning gave a hearing
| upon the proposition to erect a municipa
building for the District of Columbia Com
mittees from the builders exchange, the
board of trade and Commissioner Ross ap
peared. Those present were Capt. A. A
Thomas, Mr.. Thos. ]. Somerville and Mr.
George Gibson, for the board of trade anG
Messrs. Thomas ]. King, Thomas Norwood
F. w. Pilling. A. j. Macarty, l.. A Little
field, w. II. H. Church, E. s. Hutchinson
j. w. Thomas, Samuel Ross. T. w. Smith
II. p. Gilbert, Albert Stephan, T.V. Noonar
| and F. b. Larcomb, for the builders eX-
change.
Commissioner Ross was invited to open
the discussion. He said he represented the
Commissioners. and that the board of trade
and builders exchange were also represent
ed. The District government has been
homeless since 1871. In that year the hall
which was occupied by the District govern
ment was surrendered to the United States
and occupied by the courts. The Dis
trict has been renting quarters ever since
Every one knows that the DISTRICT govern
ment should have a building. We are in q
sense partners of the government.
'In the first place AL Of the valuable pa
pers belonging TO the District government
are liable to destruction by fire at any time
We have in the building We now occupy
about $50 employees. There are also Other
officers VINO are accommodated in otheI
buildings. They are in rented quarters
and being so widely separated communica-
ton is difficult We cannot carry on our
work as we should. Under this system oi
government the District people must come
befCAa the Commissioners and talk of their
wan,s The only room we have is O little
crowded QrIffncafinn
clerks are crowded. The engineer depart
ment has not facilities for doing it's work
IL you come down there on tax pay ing days
you will see line Of people extending out
into the street.
Present Building Unsuitable.
1.-THE building We occupy now was built for
warehouse. 1t has no arrangements FOR
ventilation and is situated right over the
great Tiber sewer. A number OF days ago
the number OF men holding important places
who were missing was so great that we
had an inspection made and 1t was shown
that sewer gas has access to the building.
AS the representative OF the District OF
Columbia l come before you today to urge
action toward providing a new building -
Mr. Ross said that the proposed location In
Judiciary Square seems available, but there
Is strong opposition to 1t on the part OF the
judges of the courts.
The site in frtnt of the Center Market is
equally good 1t is convenient Of location
and the site belongs to the District gov
ernment. IN answer to a question from
Mr.. Bankhead Mr. Ross said that there
are two plans for a building. one to cost
about 100000 and one about 100000
DO you think the District should nav
half and the government half?'' asked Mr.
Bankhead.
Yes. sir. think that would be Just"
Mr.. Ross stated that the annual rental
of buildings for the District amounted to
considerable.
Mr.. Bankhead said that the Treasury
Department has submitted an estimate,
showing the total rental to be S34.1T3.
Mr. Somervflle, representing the board of
trade, said that this matter has been
brought up frequently in the board of trade
and there is unanimity of opinion as to the
necessity for new building.
Mr. King, representing the Builders Ex-
change. stated there is pressing necessity
for municipal building. The Builders Ex-
change, as an organization Of business men,
has expended about 100000 for its building.
A Credit to the City.
TT would seem." he said. that the CITY
Of Washington should certainly have a
municipal building which would be a credit
to it. Other cities of the country with less
population than Washington have better
buildings than the one we ask you to erect.
We have money in the treasury, and we only
ask that you authorize us to take 1t out
We have 100000 of unexpended appronria
tons In the treasury. believe that none of
you gentlemen would agree to have your
local governments do business in such
buildings as We have now Our old 3,u,Id
ings were rat traps death traps and vermin
traps"
Yes. and you have not got a much bet
Yer one now? suggested Mr.. Campbell Of
New York "a
1T Is hardly fit for decent men to 20 in.
to- said Mr.. King. "The building was
built for lumber store house What we
all want Is a building centrally locates.
suitable for the accommodation of all the
District Offices
Mr.. Bankhead then asked Mr.. Ross Il
the committee should desire to select the
market site reservation would there be any
objection to using 1t on the ground that it
Is park. Mr.. Ross said he thought no
such criticism would be made. 1t is not a
park. and not fit for such.
Mr.. Bankhead said that he was in SYM
pathy with the opposition to using public
parks for public buildings.
MIR. Ross said the judges oppose the Judi
ciary square site because it would bring
such crowds in that locality
Mr.. Mercer said there is a growing de-
sire in many places to combine the city and
county offices under one roof Mr.. Ross
concurred in the idea and said he would
not oppose erecting a building on the City
Hall site.
Mr.. Somerville said that one objection
which has been urged against the Center
Market site Is its alleged liability to be
flooded in case of freshet. This is not a
vides absolute protection from flood.