Evening star., 1901-02-04

avenue to the Anacostia river, to be ac-
auired by condemnation or otherwise, sum
not to exceed S14o.0OO, to be Immediately
ain view OF the fact that the proposition
FOR the purchase of this land was debated
in the House at the last session Of Congress
and defeated, the committee deem 1t due to
the House to explain fully the reasons
which have led them to recommend the ap-
propriation In the present BILL The pres
ont hospital buildings are located upon land
belonging to the government, lying between
Nichols avenue and the Anacostia river.
The government also owns land on the
other side OF Nichols avenue, which 1t uses
as farm tributary TO the hospital The
land which IL IL proposed TO purchase ad-
tnIns the government land upon which the
hospital buildings stand.
The proposition TO purchase the land In
uussttJ Jn appeared first In the form of a
Senate amendment to the sundry civil bill
for the fiscal year 1900. whore it WAS pro-
posed 10 purchase los acres for S.io.Up
This amendment was disagreed 10 without
discussion bS the House and went out OF
the bill tu conference, In the sundry civil
bill for tho current year the committee
recommended AN appropriation or s2lo,p0o
Tor tap purchase NJ 40 acres OF land ad-
!olnius me hospital buildings. After de-
batr ia are House the provision was stricken
nut \ larsr expenditure. however, was
suthcrtsrd for the construction OF mach-
needed hospital buildings, which were re-
quir~d 10 Oe constructed upon lands al
ready owned by the government or upon
such suitable lands as might be donated to
the government within the District OF CO.
Iumbia for that purpose. The plans Tor
he buildings are now completed and tae
work Of construction can soon begin. But
as no land has been donated to the gov
rrument for the purpose the buildings must,
unless Congress should otherwise determine
he constructed upon the farm lands at-
tsched to the hospital upon the other side
II Nichols avenue.
$1,000 Acre Maximum Price.
''It Is The opinion of the superintendent of
ths hospital that for many reasons 1t is IN
,xpsdient to construct the new buildings
upon the farm lands, and he has urged
upon the committee the considerations that
the difficulty and expense of administration
would he much increased, that the lands
are not adapted for hospital purposes and
that a farm IS absolutely necessary for the
employment of inmates in the interest OF
their health and successful treatment. Ihe
Secretary of the Interior, with great earn
rstness supports the views OF the superln-
teudent.
.Therefore the committee recommend
and report this appropriation to the House
for its action 1t will be observed that by
the Senate amendment to- the sundry civil
hill for 1900 the price proposed was S2,35o
per acre An appraisement OF the land was
made for the committee at the last session
of Congress which fixed the value at ST.
$40 per acre. The recommendation of the
committee at the last session, which was
rejected by the House, fixed the price at
81 500 per acre. The committees present
recommendation fixes the maximum price
ut 81, 900 per acre Although the land has
been taxed at a much less inquire. the com
mittee after investigation believe that II
has cost the owners somewhere betweeeh
$500 and $500 per acre. including the in
trrest on the purchase money.
some New Provisions.
some Of the new provisions are az follows:
For the erection of the necessary buildings
aud quarters for laboratory for the in
yestlsa ton Of infectious and contagious dis
eases and matters pertaining TO the pubic
health. under the direction Of the supervis-
tug surgeon general. sS3.ooo; and the Sec
re,.ry nr the Navy Is authorized 10 trans
rar to the Secretary of the Treasury, Tor
ms. as a site for the laboratory, five acres
nf the reservation now occupied by the
ruvaI museum OF hygiene.
For the establishment of an electric-hghl-
ing plsnt for buildings occupied by oiffces
nf Dep trtruent of the Interior. the patent
office building. the old post office building
row occupied by the general land ana IN
dian bureaus. and the pension once puiia.
ing and for Improvement in the heatlns OF
,ht. patent office buildings. st4Wp
For work at Capitol and for general re-
pairs thereof. including wages oi me
clanics and laborers. and not exceeding $40
far the purchase OF technical ana hefes
sary books, s;;4 go
TO enable the architect of the Capltol 70
prepare and submit to Congress at Its next
session plans specifications and estimates
OF cost for reconstructtnS and eXtendlhs III
frap-oof manner the central portion OF ihe
Capitol building: the renovation ana deco
ration OF the rotunda: also FOR the con-
-trIctIon of q freproof building adjacent 10
the grounds of the Capitol bHilding, 10 De
used for offices. storage and power plant
purposes contested with the Capitol pullu-
ing 81 500 to be Immediately available:
For improving the ventilation OF the han
ot Represent atives and the corrldors ad-
iaeent thereto including new floor for me
hall and the installation of new Ventiiating
and heating apparatus. the ventilation OF
the House restaurant and Kitchen. TOT ma
Ierials labor appliances. and so FORTH
S5l 2D 10 be Immediately available.
For refurnishing the Hall Of the House OF
Representatives and the Speaker > rooms
and for furniture for the new committee
rooms Ia the old library portion or the
building. $5s 900. TO be Immediately availa-
BILE and To be disbursed by the clerk OF the
House OF Representatives.
The two foregoing appropriations shall be
expended under the direction and supervl-
sion Of q commission, consisting of three
members elect to the House Of Representa-
tlyes OF the Fifty-seyenth Congress TO be
appointed by the Speaker Of the House OF
Representatives Of the Fffty-sfxth Con-
gress
Improving Potomac river-For improve
rnent below the city of Washington, S,OoD
-O-s---------
MOVEMENTS OF NAVAL VESSELS.