Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-19

committe, on public buildings and grounds,
today introduced In the House the bill for
the acquisition of site for a municipal
building for this city.
Il shall ask the committee. on an early
date, to consider the BILL" said Mr. Mercer
to Star reporter Il hope to secure its
passage at this session, for it is a worthy
measure. I think the sentiment in Con-
gress is favorable TO providing the national
capital with municipal building, and TAX
ing the city government out of rented quar-
ters
THE plan proposed IN this bill commends
itself as a good one and 1 think will be
favoraby received
Provisions of the Bill.
The bill provides for the creation of
commission, consisting of the Secretary of
the Treasury, the Attorney General and
the Engineer Commissioner of the District
of Columbia, who are authorized and di-
rected to purchase or otherwise secure for
the joint use of the United States and the
District of Columbia, for the erection there
on of municipal building, one of the fol-
lowing named squares of ground or reser-
Vations: Square 226, square 255, square 256,
square 292, square $40, square $50, square
3Sl, square 4G1, east half of reservation b,
west half Of reservation B, east half of
reservation A, west half of reservation A,
square 015.
A commission is authorized and directed
by the second section to purchase or other
wise secure one Of the squares named as
soon as practicable at such price may
be agreed upon between the commission and
the owner or owners thereof, the price not
to exceed the actual cash value of the
property and the average price per square
foot not to exceed the average price per
square foot at which any other square or
reservation above named is offered for sale
TO the commission. All offers of sale shall
be in writing. and no payment shall be
made 10 any owner or agent of the property
involved on account of the land proposed
to be sold or purchased till written opin-
ion of the Attorney General of the United
States shall be had in favor of the validity
of the title of the square agreed to be pur-
chased by said commission.
Bids to Be Solicited.
1t is further provided that the commits
sion shall advertise in three daily news
papers published in the city Of Washington
for bids from the owners of lots in the
squares and reservations before enumer-
ated. The bids must be in writing and must
state the lowest cash price at which the
lots or squares will be sold. And proposi-
ton for the sale of any one square shall not
be entertained unless the owners of at least
10 per centum of the land contained in the
square or reservation,or half of reserva tion,
as stated in section l. shall have filed with
the commission written proposition of sale
in accordance herewith. Nor shall any
proposition for the sale of property In any
one square be accepted by said commission
until the owners of at least IS per centum
OF the land in at least three squares or res
erVations named herein shall have submit
ted propositions of sale to said commission:
Provided, however, that for the purposes
of this act the halves of reservations named
in section shall each be considered as a
square.
If the commission Shall not be able to pur-
cEdSe the WnOe of
or half of reservation named in the first Sec
ton Of the bill, by agreement with the own
ers thereof, in accordance with the terms
ana requirements of this act, then the
commission shall proceed to acquire by con-
demnation the remainder of such square
reservation or half of reservation as may be
selected by 1t, such proceedings to be in
accordance with the provisions of the act
OF Congress approved August 30 1890 pro-
Vldlng a site for the enlargement of the
government printing office U. S. Statutes
at-Large, volume 2G chapter $50.
When the commission shall have con,-
pleted the purchase of the necessary site,
It's duties shall cease and determine and
the commissioners of the District of Co
lumpla snail forthwith take charge of the
site and proceed at once to have construct
ed thereon a fireproof building for the ac-
commodat1on of the municipal Offices of
the District of Columbia the total cost of
the building, including site. not to exceed
S2,ooo,oO0, one-half of which shall be charge
able to the revenues of the District of CO.
iumbia, and the other half to be paid out
OF any money in the treasury not other
wise appropriated.
Competition in Submitting Designs,
1t is provided that the Commissioners of
the District of Columbia shall invite six
architects, or firms of architects, of con-
spicuous ability and experience to submit
competitive designs for the building, upon
carefully drawn program, the competition
to be ad1udged by the Commissioners act
ing with two other persons to be selected
by the competing architects. The architect
OF Or nrm or architects whose design shall
thus be adjudged most acceptable shall be
employed as architect of the building. to
act under direction of the office of con-
stfdction hereinafter provided for, and
shaii furnish all designs and drawings re-
quired for the construction of the hujIdinp
ana needful for its artistic completion. The
architect shall receive as full comnensat tion
TOT .ne designs, drawings and personal ser
vices the sum OF per centum of the total
cost OF said building, to be paid from time
10 Time, as the work progresses; and all de-
signs and nd drawings shall become the prop
erty of the District of Columbia The other
architects competing by invitation shall
each receive not to exceed $500
Matter of Construction.
The construction of the building shall be
placed in charge of an officer Of the govern
ment specially qualified for the duty. to be
appointed by the Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia. who shall receive for his
additional services an increase of 40 per
centum in his salary, to be paid out of the
appropriation for said building; he shall
make all contracts and employ all neces-
sary personal services not herein otherwise
provided for, subject to the approval of the
Commissioners of the District of Columbia
and the funds shall be disbursed as other
funds of Nhe District of Columbia are dis
burSed.
If said commission shall purchase a square
of ground containing buildings the Com
missioners of the District of Columbia
shall be authorized to rent such of said
buildings as they may deem desirable, at a
fair rental value, the proceeds to be de-
posted in the treasury of the United States
one-half to the credit of the United States
and one-half to the credit of the District of
Columbia.
The commission2Ana the Commissioners Of
| the District of Columbia shah submit to
Congress annually, at the beginning Of the
regular sessions, a report of their official
doings, under the authority of this act until
their duties Hereunder shall have been
completed.
! A sum sufficient for the purchase. In ac-
cordance with the provisions of this act, of
| a municipal building site and for obtaining
! plans for a municipal building and for ex-