Evening star., 1898-12-07

Justice is a necessity and | strenuously urge
upon Congress Immediate action as TO the
erection of one, and for providing such tenn
porary additional room for the department
as Will prevent damage to the public busi-
ness while awaiting its completion. As long
ago as 1ss1 Attorney General Garland rec
commended to Congress the erection of such
building, and repeated that recommended
ton i'll his reports for 1856, 1887 and 1883.
saying that the building now occupied by
the department is neither large enough nor
OF suitable construction and arrangement
for its proper accommodation. The rea-
sons for this suggestion which | gave before
exist now and gain strength with every year
that passes"
In his report for 1891 Attorney General
Miller said:
Aside from the work thus brought in by
special tnactments, the growth of the coun-
try results yearly in large increase of
business in the department, aud if this busi-
ness Is to be transacted in any proper man
ner, provision must be made by Congress
for enlarged quarters for the department.
On the 18th of June. 1893, Attorney Cen
eral Olney requested the Secretary Of the
treasury to have such an examination of
the building made by the supervising archi-
tect as would assure him and others who
might have to occupy the building that 1t
Is perfectly safe and entirely fitted for such
use as 1t is now or is likely 10 be put to
under the present administration.
The supervising architect closed his de-
tailed report Of June rs with the state
ment:
81 do not consider the building perfectly
safe entirely fitted for such use as it
Is now or is likely to be put To under the
present administration. -
The need of more room became 50 press
ing that Attorney General Harmon made
personal appeal to Congress before the
appropriations committee, urging the re-
moval of the Court of Claims 10 suitable
quarters. outside the present building.
Recently, at my request, the Secretary
OF the Treasury had an examination Of the
budding made by the present supervising
architect, who, after reporting upon tht,
condition Of the building, says:
The present space is entirely Inadequate
TO meet the requirements of the depart
ment. and 1t would be manifestly unsafe to
add additional story. 1t would seem
that the proper method which should be
adopted TO afford the desired relief would
bt the erection OF Il new building on the
adjoining lot. and on the completion there
of that the present building he removed
The Htuatton imperatiVely demands I'M
mediate action. In 1885, when Mr.. Garland
thought new building necessary. the en-
tire force OF the department was sixty
seven. 1t is now III. A great deal of the
work done is. of course, legal, and attor-
ntys In charge of important matters should
nave separate rooms. where they are not
subjected to the Interruptions and outside
disturbances that must necessarily occur
when number OF them are obliged to oc-
cupy desks in the same room. Other EN-
ployes of the department are crowded in
such manner as seriously to interfere
with the proper discharge of their dutieS.
so that. both because of the number OF
people and the character of their duties
the room i'll the department is 10 per cent
less than ii should be for present use
without any provision for future expansion
Library Rooms Overcrowded
The library OF the department is upon
the fourth floor OF the building All the
rooms allotted to it are so crowded with
hoo -
halls upon that floor have been lined with
cases. Every inch of space in the base
ment cellar of the department is filled
with stationery and library books There
is no room within the building for anything
more. The library, as a matter of course
IL receiving constant accessions, and some
thing must be done to provide room for
them. The only solution is the erection of
A new building for the depa rtment and
pending its erection. the removal of the
Court of Claims to other quarters, so that
the rooms now occupied by il can be used
Tor the library, the dangerous strain upon
the building relieved and some small adj
dltional space be made available for The
official force.
'To summarize, / may say that the build.
ing is too small for it's purpose ii is un-
safe. 1t Is overcrowded and dangerously
overloaded.
II recommend. therefore. the erection OF
a building to cover the whole of the depart,
ment lot, that occupied by the present
building as well that not yet built ,lpop
The unoccupied part OF the lot can be built
upon first; that part occupied when finish
ed, and the present building then torn down
and the new one completed. A building of
that sort could lac made of sufficient size TO
provide for the needs of the department for
many years and perhaps for a while at
least. Ia furnish room for temporary COM
missions and the like provided for by Con-
grcss
| recommend also the appropriation of
such au amount as may be necessary to
pay all the expenses of providing the Court
of Claims with other and suitable quarters
and of the removal thereto.
Exhibit shows the recommendations of
former attorneys general upon this subject