Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-23
THE BLAINE PROPERTY
What Senator Gray Says About His Pur-
chase Resolution
The Importance to the Government
That 1t should Own the Ground
Proposed New Building.

More than the usual amount of interest
has arisen in Senator Gray's proposition for
the government to buy the property for-
merly occupied by the Blaine mansion, but
now being prepared for new tneater
building, on Lafayette Square. An amend
ment to this effect, introduced by Mr.. Gray
yesterday. was outlined in last evening"
Star, together with explanation by the
Senato: as to his purpose. Since then 1T
has been intimated rather broadly, that
Senator Gray is acting in this matter IN
the interests of Senator Cameron. whose
dwelling house is separated from the pro-
posed thcater only by narrow alley
When this phase of the question was
brought to Senator Gray's attention this
morning he riGiculed it as unworthy of any
notice.
1T is absurd" he said, for anybody to
suggest that have acted in this matter in
Senator CaEeron'S interests, or. indeed, in
the interests OF anybody but the govern
ment. Not wcrd Cn this question has
eser passed between Senator Cameron AMI
myself. 1 am performing what L believe
to be a public duty III the premises. 1t was
bat recently that. on walking by this prop
erty, the abSurdity of the situation struck
me with force. l saw on this corner one
OF the most prominent parts of Washing
ton, q beautiful building site, purchased by
the government and set apart for some
future use. Here, at one ccrrer Of it. is be-
ing prepared a structure that Will, OF
course, greatly increase the pure haSiN 8
pr.ce OF that property when finished. BY
tbs nature of things. the government
should have that corner.
1t seems to have been a settled policy
that at some time or other the government
should abandon and probably tear down
the CID Freedman'S Bank building. which
"as taken by the government when it as
sured control of the E'reelman's bureau
DrOpOSitiOnS
for the occupation of this site by the gov
ernment. AS purely business PROPOSE
ton ii occurs to me to be wise for the gov
ernment to step in and buy this property
now, rather than wait until building,
costing, say, SlGU0UO, has been erected up
on it, with all of the vested interests and
rights that would accrue on such an en-
terprise, until the total sum would aCgre-
gate upwards OF SStU.OJU. L am convinced
that some day the government VIII buy
this property. and this seems to be the
best time to do Ii.
Il am considerably in earnest n this
matter. and 1 hope to see ii sucreed 1
have talked informally with gre at many
Senators and L have not yet met enc who
has prCfessed anything but approval and
qualification. 1 DO not mean 70 say that
have canvaSsed the Senate, but from the
conversations 1 have had SO far, on the
Senate side, that the proposition IS popu-
lar"
In addition to the suggestion of a Su-
prem. Court or judicial building on this
square, the idea has been advanced more
than once OF structure on this site to
accommodate tnc State Department and
possibly the offices of the President. 1t is
well-known that the State Department is
crowded in. it's present quarters in the
State War and Navy building, and the
War and Navy Departments need addition
al room. The suggestion has, therefore,
been made to establish the State Depart
uent in a home of. it's own. and among
the many schemes for the enlargement OF
the Presidents quarters one has been in
geniously advocated to locate the President
and his executive Office in such a building
as the State Department Office.