Evening star., 1899-02-08
Bill for the Mt. Vernon Square Site
Favorably Reported.
CHAIRMAN MERGERS EXPLANATION
Recommended by the Committee
on the Whole.
TEXT OF THE MEASURE

When the House went into committee of
the whole this afternoon to consider bills
reported from the committee on public
buildings and grounds Chairman Mercer
called up the bill (H. r. 11712) to provide
site for the Washington Public Library.
Mr.. Mercer explained to the House the
offer made to the library trustees by Mr..
Carnegie to build library at his own ex-
pense to cost s25O,OOO. Mr.. Mercer said
that he has recently received intimation
that the offer may be raised to $500 600.
He said it was necessary to provide a site
for the building and the pending bill pro-
posed site which he thought was a most
desirable one.
when the people of Washington can
harmonic on proposition like this, -
said Mr. Mercer, 'ft ought to be
adopted. 1t is a shame and a disgrace
that Washington has no public library.
Nearly every city of half the size of Wash
ington has public library, and there is no
one"
Mr. Dockery said he was in sympathy
with the bill and had no objection to make
to the site.
ported from committee Of the whole to the
House with a favorable recommendation.
Provisions of the Bill.
The bill, as reported. provides as follows:
THAT authority is hereby conferred upon a
commission to consist of the Commission
ers of the District of Columbia, the officer
in charge of public buildings and grounds
and the president of the board of trustees
of the Washington Public Library, to cause
to be erected upon Mount Vernon Square,
in the city of Washington, in the District
Of Columbia, q building for the use of the
Washington Public Library, with funds to
be contributed by Andrew Carnegie: Pro-
Vided, That such building shall be COM
menced within twelve months and COM
p1eted within three years from the passage
OF this act: And provided further, That no
liability shall be incurred by the United
States or the District of Columbia for the
cost of the erection of said building
Sec. 2. That said commission shall invite
ten architects or firms of architects, of
conspicuous ability and experience to sub
init competitive designs for the said build
ing upon a carefully drawn program said
competition to be adjudged by said com
mission acting with two other persons to he
selected by the competing architects. The
architect or firm of architects whose de-
sign shall thus be adjudged most accepta-
BILE shall be employed architect of the
building. to act under the direction of the
office of construction hereinafter provided
Tor, and to furnish all designs and dra W.
ings required for the construction of the
building and personal services reduisite for
their artistic execution. Said architect shall
receive as full compensation for the said
designs, drawings and personal services
the sum of per centum of the total cost
of said building. to be paid from time to
time as the work progresses; and all de-
signs and drawings furnished by him for
the said building shall become the property
Of the District Of Columbia.
Sec. 3. That he construction of said
building shall be placed in charge of an Of
fcer of the government especially qualified
for the duty, to be appointed by the afora-
said commission. who shall receive for his
additional services an increase of 40 per
centum of his present salary. to be paid out
of any available funds, and he shall dis
burse the funds under rules to be prescribed
by the said commission, make all contracts
and employ oil necessary personal services
not herein otherwise provided for"