The times., 1898-04-27
MUNICIPAL BUILDING
Bill Providing for a New Struc-
ture introduced.
THE PLANS ARE PREPARED
1t Is Proposed to DemOlish the Pres
ent City Hall Building and Erect
Accommodation of the District
Offices and the Local Courts.

Definite action. looking to a much-need- |
ed Improvement in the District of Column |
bia, was set on foot by the introduction of |
a bill in the Senate providing for a mu-
nicipal building and courthouse.
1t is proposed by the District Commit |
tee that this building shall be success. |
To this end the same plans of action |
will be followed as in the construction of
the Congressional Library building, and it
is also proposed to secure the services of |
Bernard Green, the supervising architect /
of that building.
The bill provides that the building shall
be erected upon the site of the present
city hall, and such additional portion of
said Judiciary Square as may be neces-
sary for such purpose; that the total cost |
shall not exceed S25OG,VO1, one-half of
which shall be chargeable TO the revenues |
of the District of Columbia and the other !
half payable out of the Treasury of the |
United States; that said building shall be |
erected under the direction of a commits |
sion consisting of the Engineer Commits |
sioner of said District, the Supervising |
Architect of the Treasury and the officer |
in charge of public buildings and grounds. |
Said commission shall invite ten archi- !
tects, or firms of architects, of conspic- |
uous ability and experience, to submit |
competitive designs for the said building
upon a carefully drawn program, said
competition TO be adjudged by said COM
mission acting with two other persons TO
be selected by the competing architects
The architect or firm of architects whose
design shall thus be adjudged most ac-
ceptable shall be employed as architect
of the building, TO act under direction of
the Office of construction hereinafter pro-
yided for, and to furnish all designs and
drawings required for the construction of
the building and personal services requi-
site for their artistic execution exclusive
of the heating, ventilatins, electrical and
plumbing apparatus and machinery Said
architect shall receive as full cOmpensa-
ton for the said designs, drawings and
personal services the sum of three per
| centum of the total cost of the said build
| ing, with the exceptions herein noted; and
all designs and drawings furnished by
! him for the said building shall become the
property of the United States. The other
competing architects shall each receive
| $500.
That the construction of said building
| shall be placed in charge of an officer
| of the Government specially qualified for
/ the duty who shall receive for his addi-
! centum in his present salary, 10 be paid
| out of the appropriations made for the
said building. and ne shall disburse the
/ funds under rules to be prescribed by
! the Secretary of the Treasury. to make
| all contracts and employ all necessary
! personal services not herein otherwise
! provided for.
That ten thousand dollars. or so much
! thereof as may be necessary for carry
fT,.r is.;,, NF IL.
preparation for the actual construction
| of the building. is hereby appropriated
! out of any money in the Treasury not
| otherwise appropriated, to be disbursed
| under the direction of the said commits
! sion.
1t is not expected by the committee to
| pass the appropriation for this building
at this session of Congress. but ii is de-
| sired to get the plans under way.
Chairman Dingley, in presenting the
war revenue bill to the House today,
read a report on the measure. in which
he said war had come at a time when
under the workings of the tariff of 81
| We had begun to overcome the injurious
effects of anticipatory importations. Had
| peace continued. he said. the revenue for
| the next fiscal year would have reached
1890, 900 600, $50 900. coo in excess of the rev
enue of 1896. and more than that sum in
! excess of the revenues of 1891. These re-
| ceipts, Mr.. Dingley continued would
! have fully met the expenditures for the
next fiscal year. if it had not been for
the increase caused by the difficulties
with Spain.
| Mr.. Dingley said an examination of the
| condition of the Treasury will make it
| appear that no time should be lost in
providing ample means for carrying war
! to q successful conclusion. He pointed
| out that deducting the Sl0O 600 900 gold
reserve and several other things provided
for by law. the actual available cash in
| the Treasury was only $65. 600 COO
The Government required a working
balance of $40 100000 TO carry on the
| operations of the Government, thus Ieav-
| ing but $25, 900, coo to meet the $4,000 600
! defense appropriation made some time
! ago Part of the redemption of the fund
will have to be used temporarily to make
up the deficiency
Mr.. Dingley then declared the necessity
! for immediate measures to provide ways
| and means to carry on the war. and went
| over the different articles to be taxed and
| which have heretofore been enumerated
| in these dispatches. He estimated that
| the bill Will bring $92, 600 600 not including
a stamp tax on wines and mineral waters,
| which he leaves unestimated. He ex-
| planned that the bill authorizes the Gov
| ernment to issue bonds offered as pop
uar loan. up to $500 000 Certificates of
Indebtedness up to 500, 600, 900 are also au-
| thorized to provide means to meet imme-
| diate war expenditures
! This is necessary Mr.. Dingley says as it
will take time before the proposed war
taxes can bring great results and before
! the loan authorized can be placed. The
| certificates like the bonds are to bear
per cent interest, but will run only for
| Il year
MI