The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-04-26
A MUNICIPAL BUILDING
Bill Providing for a New Struc-
ture Introduced.
TIE PLANS ARE PREPARED
Ii Is Proposed to Dcmolish the Pres
ent City Hall Building and Erect
on Its sight a Structure for the
Accommodation of the District
OfRces and the Local Courts.

Definite action, looking TO a much-need-
ed Improvement i'm the District of Colum-
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 II
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 s2,50O,0Oo. one-half of
which shall be chargeable 10 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 commits
sion consisting of the Engineer Commls-
sioncr 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-
ceDtable shall be employed as architect
of the building, to act under direction or
the Office of construction hereinafter pro-
vided for. and to furnish all designs and
- ff.NNn NJ
the building and personal services requi-
site for their artistic execution. exclusive
of the heating, ventilating electrical and
plumbing apparatus and machinery. said
architect shall receive as full compensa-
tion 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-
/ tional services an increase of 30 per
| centum in his present salary. 70 be paid
out of the appropriations made for the
| said building and he 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
| ing out the provisions Of this act In
| 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 IL 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
S}so, ,Co0 o0o. $50. 0Oo 600 in excess Of the rev.
| enue of 1896, and more than that sum in
| excess of the revenues of 1897. 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 il
| appear that no time should be lost in
| providing ample means for carrying war
to successful conclusion. He pointed
out that deducting the 500. 100000 gold
reserve and several other things provided
| for by law. the actual available cash in
| the Treasury was only $65. .000 009
| The Government required a working
balance of $40, 900 to carry on the
| opera tions of the Government thus leay-
| ing but S25, ,090. 600 to meet the So, 900. .G0J
| 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 taXNd and
| which have heretofore been enumerated
| in these dispatches. He estimated that
the bill will bring s92 0O0. 900, 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
| ular loan. up to $500, ,0000 600. Certificates of
| Indebtedness up to 500. 900 900 are also au-
| thorized to provide means to meet imme-
| date war expenditures.
| This is necessary Mr.. Dingley says as il
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 8
per cent interest, but will run only for
a year.
The bonds are to run for ten years.
4 Patriotic Show window.