Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-12
DEPT. OF JUSTICE BUILDING
ATTORNEY GENERAL GRIGGS ON
COMMITTEE RESOLUTION.
Will Go ON and Construct Within the
Limit of the Present
Appropriation.

Attorney General Griggs stated today
that yesterdays action of the House COM
mittee on buildings and grounds In refusing
to grant an additional appropriation for the
new Department of Justice building until
he should publicly advertise for bids would
necessitate the construction OF a cheap
building which would not be credit to
Washington.
II can put up a building within the ap-
preparation of 81 OOO, 600 originally granted
by Congress, and shall proceed to do So"
said MIR. Griggs. but 1t will not be OF mar
BILE or stone, and the inside finish will be
like that of any cheap Office building. will
erect the building of terra Gotta. That.
with.a cheap finish, will enable me to keep
within the money in our hands. I regret
this necessity, as it had been my hope to
see a magnificent building on Pennsylvania
avenue, which would be credit to the gov
ernment for years.
No Occasion to Readvertise.
The Attorney General went on to say
that he saw no occasion to publicly read
vertise for bids. He had advertised in a
proper manner and had received bids from
some of the largest and most substantial
concerns in the country. Owing to the
great advance in the cost of labor and
building material the bids had revealed that
the building could not be constructed OF
first-class material and be made imposing
for less than about 81 500 600 This did not
provide the money necessary for pretty
inside finish. the architects fees and the
proper file cases. That he would be fully
provided to put up a beautiful building. the
Attorney General says, he asked the House
committee for an additional appropriation
of s9Uo,0O0, making total for the building
of 81 100000. He explained why this was
necessary, and laid before the committee
the bids submitted and all the facts in
hand.
Action of the Committee.
The Attorney General asserts that the
committee did not ask him anything abou;
the charges of local contractors that they
had not been invited to make bids. The
Attorney General asserts that the commit
tee simply accepted "a lot of misstatements
for any explanation. He believes he could
have made explanation which would
have satisfied the committee.
1t is stated that If an attempt is made
now to publicly advertise for bids Congress
could do nothing about making an addition
al appropriation until the next session.
Plans and specifications would have to lie
prepared and printed, ready to submit 10
prospective bidders in all parts of the coun-
try. 1t is estimated that these bids could
rot be received. opened and made ready
for award before June 20, by which time
Congress will have adjourned.
The Attorney General has full authority
to construct the building in any way he sees
proper within the appropriation of $1,000.
600 less than SJoOD of which has been
spent. He will probably be compelled TO
advertise for bids again. with terra Gotta
as the material for construction.
The Attorney General said that he was
surprised at the action of the committee.
and was indignant that the committee had
accepted ''misstatements" and not asked
him for an explanation. He said that there
We're numerous misstatements in the reso-
luton of the committee