The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-01
a MUNICIPAL BUILDING.
senator Mr,iiIIan's Bill Providing
fer Its Erection.

Ever since the proposition was made TO
erect new building on the site of the
City Hall, the matter has been generally
discussed. Special interest, however. has
been revived in the subject by the intro
duction in the Senate Of bill by Senator
Mcmillan. Chairman of the Senate Com
mittee on District Affairs looking to The
construction of such building as has
been suggested. The bill offered by Sena-
tor Mcmillan was referred TO the Commit
tee on Public Buildings and Grounds, and
IL IS expected that report will be made
before the close OF the present session of
Congress.
y part of the present City Hall building
was erected about three-quarters of a CEN
fury ago, and during that time has been
occupied as the District courthouse. A
lew years after the close of the Civil War
II was found that the building was too
small Tor the purposes for which IL was
built. and it was enlarged by the addition
Of the northern section. This is now oa-
cupled by the Circuit and Equity Court
rooms on the second floor, the offices of
the Register of Wills and Recorder of
Deeds in the basement, and the District
attorney Office and jury rooms on the
third, or top, floor. On the second floor of
the annex is also the clerks office Large
as the building appears, it has been forci-
ply demonstrated to the court officials and
the heads of other departments for several
years that 1t has been too small for the
rapidly increasing business.
IL is stated that it is intended that the
new municipal building shall be a large
structure, such as will be ample to provide
increased accommodation for the trapsac-
ton OF the business of the courts and other
governmental departments, row transacted
IN the City Hall. Besides these, il is also
proposed that accommodation shall be mo-
weed Tor the business of the different
branches of the District Government. such
as is now transacted in the District
building and the Police Court In this
way it is intended to concentrate all the
di1erent branches Of business connected
with the government Of the District in one
building.
This plan, however, is not thought al
visible by some Of the heads of department
now located in the City Hall II is believed
by some that the bringing tog- Their of all
the different branches Of the local govern
ment into such close proximity will be a
hindrance rather than a hep 10 the trans
action OF business. An official who has
been watching the course of events and all
the suggestions made in reference TO the
pAoppotu ntN bullGlHB anu It's uses stated
few days ago that it would be much bet
ter il the Government would erect two
buildings instead of one. These, he said
should be placed at the southwestern and
southeastern corners of Judiciary Square.
one being used exclusively for the accom-
mediation OF the Supreme Court and the
Court OF Appeals for the District, and the
branches Of the Government Immediately
connected with them. and the other for the
purposes of a municipal building and police
court. The buildings being located at these
points, the official referred to stated. would
enhance the beauty Of Judiciary Square by
allowing a fun view up Four-and- "a Half
Street from the south.
During and for several years subsequent
to the Civil War the District jail was To-
Gated at the northeast corner OF judiciary
Square, and after the erection OF the pres
ent building. in 1861. on the commons, it
was torn down. The last person hanged In
the old Jail was Thomas Brown, colored.
who paid the penalty for the murder OF
peddler named Smith.