The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-13

the Crowded Condition of Things
The Fipy-sixth Congress, at its first
session. was more liberal with the Dis
trict of Columbia than its predecessors
had been In the way of appropriations
for streets. schoolhouscs, and ether mu-
nicipal buildings. and for the increase OF
several of the departments. the present
Congress has distanced all competitors and
has shown something like generosity to-
ward the city of which it is the common
council. But Congress, with its benevo-
lent intentions, has only made beginning
of what it ought to do in the way of pro-
viding for the municipality.
As one of the Commissioners recently
said to a reporter for The Times: The
new workhouse for males is all right and
we are grateful for it, as well as for the
buildings which will aid greatly in over
coming the crowded condition of the pub
! lie schools. We are also glad that Con-
gress in its liberality has given us new
stationhouse and has otherwise added to
the facilities CT the Police Department, and
that several additions have been made TO
the paraphernalia of the Fire Department.
These are all good in their way, but what
Congress ought to do, and what it must do
very soon, is to provide suitable build
ing in which TO house the municipal offices
and TO afford a place of safety for the rec
/ ords and valuable papers that have ac-
cumulated duripg-the life of the city,
| The Comnlis soner l-went on to say that
the bill introduced az the last session and
now sleepingsjn the archives of one of the
District Committees should be brought to
light when the houses come together next
winter and passed. THAT biil,'' he said
which PROVIDES for the purchase of site
and the erection thereon of a municipal
building. would in the course OF three
years put Washington into possession of
City Hall of which it might well be proud. ="
Asked for Years Ago.
The Commissioners in their annual re-
ports have urged the necessity OF p ov-diag
the municipal building for several years
past In 1899 the fact became apparent
that the present quarters of the municipal
lffiees would almost Immediately 5e..me
irae eGuate to the proper and prompt
transaction Of public business, and IN that
year the Commissioners soug-t 10 i'm. ress
Upon the minds Of the Cong s-ioLal Con-
mittees the need of taking steps TO p-ovide
a building more in conformity with the
other cities in this respect.
II. 1897 the Commissioners set forth in
their annual report that: NO greater or
more pressing reed exits in eonaec ion
with the municipal government than the
need o. a municipal building. Although
the city has grown within the past tw nty-
five years so as to exceed b. maay thod-
sands the population. of that time, ard the
work of administering municipal affa::s
has kept pace with the growth OF t1a city
there has never been adequate provision
made tor housing the Offices and giving the
proper facilities for the Transaction of
business. Not single department of the
municipal government at present has SUI
ficient room or suitable accommodate ons
for carrying on the large amount OF BUSH
ness which daily comes before it.
While this is true OF all dep lrtments, it
is especially true OF the Police D.pnt-
ment and the Offices of the Assessor and
Coll ector of Taxes. These are the three
departments with which la ger majo-ity
of the people have 10 do than with any
other, and it is to the greatest scom OF
of the pc, pie in transacting busintss With
them that they are compelled 10 attend
to the same in the narrow and restricted
quarters assigned them.
this request TO Congress the Commissioners
were obliged to provide rev quarters for
the Police Department at an annual rem al
OF $3.50 in the Harper Building. where
II is housed apart from the other depa L
ments and IS the cause OF much neon
yenience not only 10 the Police Depart
ment, but TO the satisfactory communica-
tion between headquarters and the offices
Of the Commissioners,
In the same report quoted from above
the Commissioners da!led attention TO the
fact that the crowded condition of the
District offices ana the poor light Of the
building was constant menace TO the
health of the employees, and added that
Washington 8. 3uld surely be provided
with 4 municipal building that would be
rot only adequate in its accommodations,
but creditshte to the National Capital
That year the. Commissioners asked a few
thousand dollars for the purpose of secur-
ing plans and for the acquisition Of a site.
leaving the expense Of constructing The
building TO subsequent appropriation.
But the request was not granted.
The Request Renewed.
Again in their last annual report the
Commissionsrs addressed Congress as fol-
lows in regard to the need Of a municipal
building:
THE Districts resources were never in
a better condtttdn, than now 10 justify Con-
gress in making provision for the con-
struction OF 4 municipal building consist
ent in design and location with the promi
nenee of the District as the seat OF the
National Government. The Commissioners
can imagine no necessity for further argu-
ment to demonstrate the necessity and
advantage Of providing suitable structure
for the accommodation OF the District gov
eminent and the courts and as 1t is no
longer question of financial eXpediency
they are encouraged to hope that this
often deferred subject will receive favor
able action by Congress at the coming ses-
SION
The question also has been under dis
cussion by the Washington Board OF Trade,
by the Business Mems Association, and by
several OF the citizens associations in the
District. BY all these bodies Congress
has been urged 90 act. In a communica-
tion on the subject forwarded to the Com
missioners the Board of Trade said:
''The present quarters of the municipal
government are not sufficient in size, nor
so arranged as TO permit of the various
departments performing properly and cor
rectly the duties assigned to them. Any
one can see at a glance that they are
cramped for room. The mere fact that il |
is rented building forbids the making or
concentrating of such plans as are of
permanent character either for the trans