The evening times., 1896-03-18
SUPREME COURTS HOME
Another Effort Will Be Made to
Purchase Ground.
SITE Is ON CAPITOL HILL
Building VIII Be Erected Opposite the
New Library-Senator MOrrilrs Bill
to Secure the Land-Court Can Is
sue Any Process n ecessary to Take
Possession of the Property.

| Another effort is to be made to secure a
site for a building for the accommodation
of the Supreme Court of the United States.
For years an effort has been made In
every Congress to get a bill through. but
| SO far unsuccessfully. Tie Fifty-first Con-
gress came nearest IL. passing bill in the
Senate, which was buried deep in the House.
Senator Morrill, has just made another
effort in this direction. During the week
Just passed he introduced a bill for
this purpose, which goes To the Committee
on Public Buildings and Grounds. The
measure is draw only for the purchase OF
a site for the building. After the land is
purchased arrangements can be made for
the erection of the structure Itself. The
bill contains all the best ideas of the Senate
up to the present time. It's so drawn as TO
cover all the points on which objection was
raised in the past.
ON CAPITOL HILL.
The general plan which has been in the
Senatorial mind for several years is that
tile property opposite the new Library
Building is to be the site OF the structure.
on this a building in keeping with the
Library will be built. In this the Su-
prenie Court will have all the room needed.
and the Senate and House would be able
tc give themselves more commUdious quar-
ters. The Capitol then would be de-
voted entirely To the legislative branch of
the government.
The bin OF Senator Morrill, provides that
the following pieces of land situated east
Of the Capitol Grounds, shall be purchased
or taken for public use: Squares desg-
mated ON the plan of the city of Washing
ton as numbered I2S, and triangular par
Gels designated thereon as numbers I26
and 72I, the whole being bounded ON the
hp Il ha nv
Second street east, on the south by East
Capitol street, and on the west by First
street east, and supposed to contain 226,-
151 superficial feet, exclusive OF avenues,
streets, and alleys.
No special sum of money is appropriated
because the amount is to be decided in
the future. THE bill provides the manner
in which this amount is to be named. 1t
authorizes the Secretary Of the Interior to
purchase this land, or any part OF it.
at such prices as may be agreed upon by
the Secretary and the owners. This price
is not to exceed the cash value of the land.
This value is to be ascertaincd by the Sec
retary from the testimony OF real estate
experts, or in any manner he may deem
best. The Attorney General is required to
give a written opinion on the title before
any money is paid over.
MAY CONDEMN IT.
The bill further provides that if the Sec
retary of the Interior is unable TO purchase
the whole of this land by agreement within
thirty days he is 10 proceed in another
manner. He must make application to the
supreme court OF the District of Columbia.
asking for the appointment of five com
missioners, who shall make a just and
equitable appraisement OF the cash value
Of the several properties.
Provision is further made In the bin
for the details OF the work of the commits
siOners and their report to the court.
Power Is given the court to issue any
process necessary for taking possession
OF this Land. The cost of the inquiry is
to be paid by the United States.
Some hope is expressed that the bin
may meet with a more favorable reception
now than 1t has in the past. However.
a new Government Printing Office and
this may clash. Revenues are small
and the government cannot afford to piN
up many more debts.