New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-20
NEW CUSTOM HOUSE PLANS.
SENATOR MURPHY'S BILL ORDERED
REPORTED TO THE HOUSE.
THE COMMISSION FEATURE RETA1NEp-soME
AMENDMENTS ADOPTED BY THE CON-
MIrrDE on PUBLIC BUILDINGS
AND GROUNDS.
TpY reLEaeArH TO THE rRIBuNE.]

AND GROUNDS.
fBY rELEoeAPH TO THE rRIBuNE]
Washington. Feb. demonstrating the private ana !,
semi.public protestatiors OF Chairman Miilken ana
the majority OF his colleagues OF the committee Oh
Public buildings and Grounds of the House OF Repre-
senatives the action they took to-day on the Dill 10
provide for the erection Of Custom House IN 'he
city OF New-York" was somewhat surprising. ID!
vote of to the Senate bin was ordered to be favor
ably reported with amendments which were not re-
garded as unsatisfactory by the advocates ana pro-
poscd 'politica beneRcaries of the measure Prop
ably no member Of the committee. with the possible
exception OF Mr.. Get, of New-York. who represents
a Congress district in the western part Of the
State is prepared to advocate the Dill on us
intrinsic merits. although 1t was asserted In the meet
Ing OF the committee to-day which was open TO the
public that every Representative from the State OF
New-York favored 1t.
The excuse afterward given by several members OF
the committee who had voted report the bill favor
ably was that there was no probability whatever OF
its passage by this Congress. This excuse Is not
good one and Chairman Milliken and his colleagues
know IL. A report by committee in one Congress
In favor OF measure that fails is always used as
lever to push 1t along in a succeeding Congress 1t
Is true, however that the Murphy bill will not he
passed by this Congress unless IL shall be taken out OF
Its regular order unless the dam shall burst which
mas been raised to stem flood Of bills heretofore re-
Grounds-bills which might not be deemed exrava-
giant in year Of superabundart revenues and an
overfowing Treasury. but which at this time could
not be otherwise regarded.
That now building in New.York City for a Gus
tom House is necessary is fact which every nelli
gent and well-informed member of the House OF Rep
resentatives recognizes as clearly do the members
of the Committee Public Buildings and Grounds.
The necessity of passing the Murphy BILL however,
In the last days or hours of session. without OPP
portunty for fair discussion consideration, Is
so generally perceived.
Perhaps the most significant indication Of the ati
tude Of the committee which voted to report the bill
favorably to-day was the rejection OF the motion
onered by Mr. Hyde, of Washington. to strike the
commission provisions Mr.. Hydcs motion to post
pcne action until the meeting of the committee
was also rejected. The amendment of Mr.. Henry of
Indiana. providing that the expenses of the Commits
sioners shall not exceed $4,000 each was adopted.
On motion of Mr. Mercer of Nebraska several
other amendments were adopted. One is a provso
at the end OF Section J. which Is the section that
appoints Messrs. Taintor. Post, Kbreth. Brown and
Hugh j. Grant a Board Of Commissioners TO be
charged with the erection and construction of
suitable. commodious and sufficiently Areproof
building for the purpose Of Custom House upon
the present Custom House site" Mr.. MERGERS pro-
viso reads follows
That the said building must be completed and
ready for occupancy With six next after the
enter into bond Of $4,000 for the PERFORMANCE Of
this and all the other provisions of this act.
Another amendment offered by Mr. Mercer and
adopted provides that the contract for the pur-
erase and removal Of the present building or a
portion Of shall he let TO "the lowest RESPONSE
bic bidder" for the same instead Of 'the best bid
der" Section OF the bill was amended on Mr..
MERGERS motion so as to read as follows:
That the balance remaining unexpended under the
timber a. 1885, entitled AN act for the erection OF