Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-19
HOME FOR JUDICIARY
Bill Providing for Construction Of
Building East Of Capitol.
COST OF STRUCTURE TO Be 100000
Measure Supersedes Other Provii-
sions for Temple Of Justice.
COMPETITION IN DESIGNS

Representative Mercer, chairman of the
House committee public buildings and
grounds has prepared a substitute for the
Dalzel bill providing for a temple Of JUS
tice for the accommodation of the Supreme
Court and branches of the judiciary in the
District.
The substitute is entitled "An act to pro-
vide for the purchase of a site for and the
erection thereon of a temple of justice
building for the accommodation of the Su-
preme Court of the United States, and for
other purposes
Its first section states that in order to
provide suitable site for a temple of JUS
tice building for the accommodation of the
Supreme Court of the United States, the
Department of Justice, the Court of APP
peals of the District of Columbia, the Su-
preme Court of the District Of Columbia,
the Court of Claims, the National Law LII
brary and for other purposes the certain
parcels of land situate east of the Capitol
grounds shall be purchased by commls-
sion hereby created consisting of the Sec
retary of the Interior, the Secretary OF the
Treasury and the chief justice of the United
States, or otherwise taken for public use.
The parcels referred to are: Square desig-
mated on tho plan of the city of Washington
as number I2S, and triangular parcels des-
iSnated thereon as numbers I2b ana 81, tne
street north, on the east by I'd street east,
on the south by East Capitol street and ON
the west by 1st street east and supposed
to contain 226,15 superficial feet, exclusive
of avenues, streets and alleys.
The second section repeals the act to pro-
vide for the erection of a building for the
Department of Justice, approved March 8,
1899, and requires an immediate accounting
to Congress by the Attorney General Of the
sum of $4,000 or any part thereof, appro-
priated under that act and to return to the
treasury of The United States any part Of
the sum unexpended by him in the hiring
of temporary quarters for use of the Court
of Claims; and in removing said court and
it's records and archives thereto; and the
sum of 81 100000 appropriated in that act
is hereby diverted from the object and pur-
poses therein expressed and reappropria ted
for the object and purposes of this act.
By Purchase or Condemnation.
Sections providing for the purchase or, in
failure of an agreement Of the consdera-
ton, the condemnation Of this land by
commissioners follow, and 1t is further rro-
vided that when all the proceedings neces-
sary to the complete purchase Of the site
have been completed the commission shall
erect thereon a fireproof building, the total
cost of which, including site, shall not ex-
ceed the sum Of $7,oO0,O0O The building,
when completed. is to correspond in archi-
tectural design with the Capitol and Con-
g1essional Library buildings.
invite ten architects or firms Of architects
Of conspicuous ability and experience to
submit competitive designs for the building
upon carefully drawn program. said COM
petition to be adjudged by the commission
acting with two other persons to be selected
by the competing architects. The archi-
tects firm Of architects whose design
shall thus De adjudged most acceptable
shall be employed as architects Of the
building, to act under the direction Of the
office Of construction and shall furnish all
designs and drawings required for the con-
struction Of the building and needful for
Its artistic completion.
The unsuccessful architects or firm of
architects competing by invitation shall re-
ceive not to exceed the sum Of $1,000, pro-
v1ded that any architect or firm of archi-
tects, whether invited not, may submit
plans and designs to the commission. and
nothing in this act shall prevent the COM
mission from accepting such plans and de-
signs as are most acceptable; also, that no
money shall be paid any architect or firm
Of architects for plans, designs or services
until some plan or design shall have been
accepted, such plan or design to come
within the limit of cost prescribed by the
provisions Of this act.
Provision for 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 commission. who shall re-
ceive for his additional services an increase
of 40 per centum Of his salary,to be paid out
of the appropriation for the building He
shall make all contracts and employ all
necessary personal services not herein
otherwise provided for, subject to the ap-
proval of the commission, and the fund
shall be dfsbursed other funds of the
government disbursed subject to the
approval Of each member Of the commits
sion.
section provides that the commission
shall submit to Congress annually at the
beginning of the regular session report
of their official doings under the authority
of the act until their duties hereunder
shall have been completed.