New-York tribune., 1897-02-13
OBJECTS TO HUGH J. GRANT.
A DEAL IN PASSING THE CUSTOM HOUSE
BILL ALLEGED.
MR. WHITE SEVERELY CRITlClSES TIE ShN"N
rIoN OF SENATOR MURPHY's soN-lN-LA"
AS ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS
TIE BOWLING GREEN SITE


ADVOCATED
Washington Feb I2-The New-fork custom
House bill came In for vigorous overhau'ne D'
Mr. White OF Illinois. at to-days meeting oi 'n'
House Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds
and the charge of n deal in the appointment OF two
of rho commissioners was also made by the ChicaBo
Representative.
Mr. White asserted that the business men oi
New-York city prefer the Bowling Green si'e'
which contains twice the number OF square '.'
that are contained In the present site lie Iau oe
fore the committee petition signed by 7o import
ers. merchants and bankers. protesting against the
present site and strongly urging the constructor" "
a new building In Bowling Green
In the course Of his remarks he referred TO reSo
luton offered by Mr. Hicks, of Pennsylvania SeN
eral weeks ago directing the appointment ol sup-
committee to visit New-York and personally exam
inc the different sites which had been offered 10 the
Government At a subsequent meeting OF the cof"-
mittee this resolution. which had been adopted was
rescirded and this action Mr.. White resa'o'u q"
unjust. He went on TO say that the 'h"'
tho nr,scnt site do not favor the suggestion Vi
personal inspection by the members OF the oo''
tee as /, would prove conclusi'ely To 'he'r NM
thu, Tho nresent location Of the Custom House Is
unsatisfactory. and that the grouhd Il ho' sum
ciently larg, for the Governments purpose
lie next referred to the passage o. inc p' VI"
the Senate and asserted that this could NOT nav
occurred if provision had no; been maze Ia u"
measure for the appointment OF Senator Mu'p"!
.on-.r-law. ex-Mayor Hugh j. Grant as one VI ,"V
commissioners Nr White continued MS diSs''''"
of the bill until l9 o'clock arrived, wheh 'he 'o'
mittce adjourned wthou: action. lie Sh""e' '""
the five commissioners were TO hav" a S''H'. "
81 0u wear each and that the bill provideu no I'M
ifaton of time for the completion OF the
lie referred to the number OF years tnai tnc
M Albany was building and assortcl INA. i",h ,ho
was nothing in this bill that would comle' ~ III
completion Of the building in twcht! !cnt'' ratn
commissioners meanwhile rrawing handsome Sd'"'
ries. -. .,ot,,r,cp, Of
three commissioner harlcs y 1alh'oi 'cCi
Y POST and James T. Kilbre-. II passt~i t1t ?
ate with the addition Of the names OF hus" -
Grant and Edwin +. Brown. ana II wa .nS in1 ~
nointment Of the two las-nar1ed men ma -, ~
forth Mr. Whites charges Of deal ne OH 49, o
proyides for the sale OF the present DuldlhS anu -"
annropriation of g. 0000 0G) for the constructor VI
new building on the present ste. -.
The FIVE commissioners. under the terms ol w. t.l
bill are vested with full power TO soil INC pcStho
structure and to suprrintcnd the erection oI W.,
new building Mr.. White argued that lile P.opei
persons TO sIIperintend the building are me HccI
iarv of tho Treasury and the Supervising Archlec.'
poh oc these men officers of. the IoNcIh"en''
and could perform this service " lon, M,,n Eo' II,
ncnsation and would moreoverSe cohstahlN ~
hand TO be consulted by the committee whenever
t,fn inn w needed