Evening star., 1899-03-03
Need for the Building.

This bill has been pending for a long
time said Mr.. Mercer. THE Attorney
General has urged its adoption day after
day. Other persons have urged it's adop-
tion. l will frankly admit to the gentleman
from Missouri that if | had my way, and I
believe if the committee had its way we
should he in favor of erecting A tenple of
justice in the city of Washington which
not only would take care of the Attorney
General, the Supreme Court. the Court of
Claims and the Appellate Court of the Dis
trict of Columbia. but would afford suit BILE
accommodations for such a congress as
the international postal congress and for
international commissions like the Amer
lean and Canadian high joint commission
But the Attorney General says there is
not time to do anything of that kind: that
the government owns this ground: that this
Is an urgent case, and | place his request
before this House. for it to assume the re-
sponsibility. And if this House desires 10
have another Ford's Theater disaster upon
its hands. that is for the House to decide
am following the suggestions of the At
torney General, and the bill was drawn by
the Attorney General himself"
After some further debate, in which Mr.
henderson, Mr.. Cannon and others sup
ported the proposition, an amendment was
adopted limiting the cost to 81 900 900 and
the bill was passed.
Action in the Senate.
When the Senate reconvened at S:15 pm
Mr.. Quay moved that the Senate concur in
the amendment of the House to the meas
ure providing for the erection of a building
for the Department of Justice the amend
ment limiting the cost to 81 ,OG0 900 The
motion was agreed to, which passes the bill
The Bill.
The text of the bill follows:
THAT fireprOOf building shall be erected
for the accommodation and use of the De-
partment of Justice upon the ground be-
longing to the government at the corner
OF pennsylvania avenue and Madison place
Q"t2 street northwest, in the city of Wash
inSton, ID. c., part of which is covered by
the building now occupied by the depart-
1nent; and the construction of said building
snail be in charge of the Attorney General
VINO SNAIL be authorized and directed to Sc
lect and adopt plans for the said building
and to make contracts for its construction
and for the removal of the old building n f.
ter proper advertisements and the reception
of plans and bids. and to paw to the ner-
sons submitting the two sets of plans next
in order of merit to those selected sucb
sums as, in his Judgment shall be proner
compensation Tor their preparation; and for
the purpose OF carrying out the provisions
OF this act and completing and furnishing
the said building the sum of 81 OtsO 600 is
hereby appropriated, out of any money in
the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
and the money appropriated for said build
ing snail be expended under the direction
of the Attorney General.
THE building shall be constructed so as
to provide court room and necessary ac-
commodations for the Court of Claims In
the meantime the Attorney General is an
thorized TO hire temporary quarters for the
use OF said court and to remove said court
and its records and archives thereto: and
the sum of S25 900 is hereby Appropriated
Tor that purpose, to remain available until
expended. The Attorney General shall an
ually report to Congress at the Commence
ment of each session a detailed statement
of all the proceedings made under the pro
visions of this act"