Evening star., 1896-11-17

1T is true that the first floors of these
buildings are in many instances used for
post offices. but the buildings are not so
used to the extent that the proposed build
ing here would be devoted to municipal
purposes
Your committee are unanimous in the
opinion that the site occupied by the city
hail. on Judiciary Square. should be Sc
lected for the new building: and that the
wings Of such new building should be con-
structed adjacent to the present building,
in such manner as not to interfere with
the necessary sessions of the courts, until
such time as that the completion of a part
Of the new buil1ing will permit the re-
mCNal of some part Of the old building.
Your committee believe that the building
to be assigned to the courts, while adjacent
to the proposed municipal building, need
not be so connected Herewith as to cause
confusion Inconvenience to the courts
by reason of the great number of people
who would frequent that locality for nur
nicipal purposes alone-in other words,
your committee favor two separate. ad-
jciEing buildings. to constitute. archit ectur-
ally one building, one part for the courts
and one for the municipality, at total
cost not to exceed $2,.U0.OO.
Your committee report that no location
has been considered by the people Of the
District of Columbia which has met with
such uranimity Of public approval as has
the proposed site upon Judiciary Square.
The new and enlarged building will not
further impair the use of the magnificent
reservation known as Judiciary Square as
one of the parks of the capital.
I'm other leading cities OF the Union the
cost Of buildings for municipal purpos IS
alone has beer AS follows:
Philadelphia .......................$l .$l4 900 I'M.
San Francisco. o......................... 5oO0.;sk,
Baltimore OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. g. DOO, ,tAkj
New Orleans. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 4.hp.tssl
Chicago NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. l. 7lG:S.,
Cincinnati NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. itD,t.x,
When the fact Is considered that the pro-
building 10 iS 70
used for all of the federal courts, Including
the Court of Appeals. and the new munich
pal library 1t cannot be claimed that the
estimate of cost is excessive. 1t must be
regarded as discreditable that a community
of 213.O0O souls Is without a municipal
building of its own. especially in view Of
the fact that the homeless municipality is
in many respects a most important ad-
junot to the federal government. Its fire
department protects the federal buildings;
Its police force guards the homes of Sena-
tors and members of the House of Repre-
Sentatives and the Capitol building: its
health department seeks to secure proper
sanitary conditions for federal officials and
their families. and for all permanent and
temporary residents its public schools are
free to all who may reside In the District
even for brief period Of time: and all the
public works conducted under its care
tend to The advantage and security and
the healthfulneSs of the many citizens of
the stetes Of the Union, who are here as
federal officials or visitors to the capi-
tai.
Your committee. therefore. recommend
that the appropriation of SlOO.DN estimated
for by the Commissioners of the District
of Columbia for the fiscal year ending June
10 1885, for the purpose of beginning the
erection Of a rev municipal building and
court house. should have the hearty sup
port and cooperation Of the board of
trade; and they believe that. with the help
of the influential press of the District, and
of our people generally, we may confident
ly expect that Congress may see its way
clear to enable our people to begin this
most important and long delayed enter
prise
The report is signed by Thos. Somervilie
A A. Thomas, Geo. Gibson E. G. Schafer
ard John w. Ross, members Of the COM
mittee.