Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-03
MUNICIPAL BUILDING
Representative Mercer to Introduce a
Bill for One.
site 10 Be ON PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE
He Thinks Legislation This Session
is Likely.
SOME SENATOR'S
VIEWS

Representative Mercer, chairman Of the
House committee on public buildings and
grounds, will introduce next Monday in the
House bill to provide municipal build
ing for Washington The bill will require
the construction Of building for the sole
use OF the city government and will not
provide accommodation for the courts.
"I believe" said Mr.. Mercer to Star re-
porter this afternoon. that the prospect
is good for legislation at this session of
Congress which will give the city Of Wash
ington the municipal building for which
we have been striving so long,
An Avenue Site.
Questioned upon his choice of site for
the building, Mr.. Mercer said that by all
means 1t should be located on the south
side Of Pennsylvania avenue and facing the
avenue. He had learned that the expert
ence of all large cities with their public
buildings showed the necessity of having
the municipal building nearest the center
Of population. The location Of the struc-
ture in this section mentioned would serve
this end.
for two reasons" said Mr.. Mercer. IN the
first place, do not think the building
should go in that section Of the city: in the
second place. do not want to combine the
municipal OullQlnB ana tn6 court nOOS6 ana
do not want to see the present court
house structure torn down to make room
for another.
''The court house is really a good build
ing. It is well constructed, and with the
expenditure Of a little money improve
nents can be made which will enable us to
use the building for the courts. There is
little community Of lawyers all around the
square, and that section is given over to
the courts and the transaction Of legal
business.
Character of Municipal Building.
THE municipal building, which should be
located nearer the center of population,
must be constructed with a view to prox-
unity to the greatest number Of people, and
must be built SO as to furnish light, ven
tiiatton and to look out for the needs of the
future.
Washington will certainly grow and we
ought to provide now for the requirements
OF many years to come. I am in favor of
giving the city a structure which will be
adequate In every way for present and fl-
ture needs. The committee has been i'm
communication with the mayors of several
large cities, who have given the result of
their experience and observation upon this
subject and have offered many valuable
suggestions upon the construction of city
building.
II have not completed the draft of the
bill which propose to offer for the Wash
fngton building, but hope to do SO by Mon
day, when ! will introduce it and will urge
the committee to act upon 1t. The Senate
has taken the matter up, and see no rea-
son why we should not proceed at this ses-
sion to DO this thing, which should have
been done long ago and for which there is
undoubtedly great necessity"
Senator Proctor's Views.
For years I have been in favor of plac-
ing our public buildings in this city on the
i1o 40 nz
there should be some reason in particular
case for the location of a building else
where" said Senator Proctor of Vermont
to Star reporter today. II think the
ground between the mall and PENNSYLVANIA
avenue should be utilized for public build
ings as rapidly as they should be called for.
am very glad the city post office building
Is there and hope the convenience of the
location and the opportunity that those
be shown by it. I think site on the south
side Of Pennsylvania avenue is particularly
desirable for the new municipal building to
be built here.
Advantages of the Avenue.
"The location Of public buildings on the
south side Of the avenue would make them
extremely accessible for members of Con-
gress, as most Of them have to pass up the
avenue in going to and from the Capitol.
There Is no doubt in my mind about the
general policy Of eventually purchasing all
OF this land being advisable. Such land as
Is not needed for building sites should be
acquired in order that Objectionable fea-
lures OF the section could be wiped out and
the place beautified.
Senator Cullom Agrees.
Il would like to see the sites on the south
side Of Pennsylvania avenue utilized by the
government for its public buildings in this
city,, said Senator Cullom of Illinois to Q
Star reporter today. IT would like to see
the land between the avenue and the mall
purchased by the government in order to
make it decent place In other words, I
am Tor the improvement Of the national
capital in every reasonable way. 1 think
the objections to these sites for large
buildings, based on the cost of securing a
good foundation, have been fully answered
by the facts in this respect relating to the
city post Office building"