Evening star., 1898-12-13
ASUPREME COURT BUILDING
Bill Provided for Buying Site Passed by
the Senate
Necessity for Providing for the High
est Judicial Tribunal Pointed Out
by Senator Morrill,.

| The Senate today. for the third time,
| passed a bill providing for the purchase
| of site for a United States Supreme Court
| building. This site is located east of the
| Capitol and north of the Congressional
| Library building being bounded by East
Capitol street, 1st ID and B streets north
| EAST. The site contains 226.172 square feet
| OF ground. exclusive of avenues, streets
and allys.
In calling up the bill for this purpose
Senator Morrill, said that the recent fire
| in that portion of the Capitol occupied by
the Supreme Court and the Law Library
was a striking demonstration for the neces-
sity for the highest judicial tribunal in the
land to have better accommoda tions. He
said that Congress could well afford to
give some attention to the comfort and
dignity of the Supreme Court and he paid
a glowing tribute to the high characte
OF that body throughout its history.
Demand for the Building
Mr.. Morrill, said that the bill he proposed
had been passed by the Senate unanimously
on two occasions. The first time was June
g. 1883. and again April 26, 1890. Since
that time it has had the approval of the
OF every Congress, but 1t had been thought
well not to urge its passage until the COM
pletion of the Congressional Library and
post office buildings.
These buildings now being completed.
there could be no reason urged against pro
Vlding the Supreme Court with a suita bic
building. He said that the owner of the
land on the site indicated had reques ed
tfat Congress should indicate whether or
rot ii was It's purpose to purchase this land
as the constant expectation that 1t migot
be bought acted as a cloud upon it, pre-
venting it's sale or its rental to adyantag ge
sal ha isft of III
land was necessary in order to complete
the symmetry of the grounds east of the
Capitol.
Mr.. Morrill, said it would not be necessary
10 build great and extravagant structure
for the Supreme Court. though il would cal!
for a large and elegant building as the
1 nlted States could hardly afford to build
any other kline of structure He said il
would also be doubtless desirable 10 locate
in this building the Court of Claims and
the Court of Appeals of the District of CO.
lumbia. while the marshals office and all
accessory officials would be provided for
He said the room now used by the Supreme
Court is not large enough to accommodate
counsel IL important cases. In such cases
members of the Senate and House who de-
sire TO be present are unable to do ST. on a.-
count of the lack of space.
Wisdom of Selecting This City.
The senator spoke of the genial an1
healthy climate of the city Of Washington
ana SAID that as the city grows older it be-
comes more and more apparent how wisely
the fathers acted in selecting 1t for the seat
OF government. The chief blunder which
had been made was the failure to fully ap-
pfec1ate the necessities of the government
departments ~ '
He said that Congress itself needs the
room now occupied by the Supreme Court.
Mr. Morrill, concluded his remarks nv ask
Ihs lhitt the Senate vote on the bill.
should Not Buy IL Site.
Mr.. Vest said that while this bill had
been passed by the Senate on two former
occasions he had not opposed it because
he was satisfied that it would not go
through the House of Representatives. He
said he was opposed to the bill because he
beleVed that the government should utIIize
property ii now owns before investing in
more land. He said he thought the site
occupied by the office of the Attornev
General was a good one for the Supreme
court building. This size. at the corner of
pennsylvania avenue and Madison place,
was located in the business center Of the
city, and had been purchased eighteen
years ago from the Freedman's Bank The
government mad paid Si5o,OOD for it. and
ne considered ii the best purchase of a.d
the government had ever made Formerly
he said. he had advocated the purchase Of
the Blaine and the Cameron property to be
added to this site. but as it is now, he said
the government had plenty of ground there
or which TO erect building for the Su-
preme Court. For these reasons he said
he was opposed TO Mr.. Morrilrs bill
Senator CockTell said he desired to amend
the bill by allowing nirety instead Of thirty
days as the period during which The At
torney General might purchase the land at
private sale, after which condemnation pro-
ceedings were to be begun. He was afraid
the time was too short. and ms experien- e
had shown him that it frequently happens
that the government can buy at private
sale cheaper than by condemnation sale
The amendment was accepted.
The bill was then passed without d.
vision.