Evening star., 1901-02-02

justice OF the United States (or taken for
public use), namely: Square designated on
the plan of the city of Washington as
numbered 72S, triangular parcels desjenat-
ed thereon as numbers 725 and 797, the
whole being bounded on the north by B
street north on the east by I'd street east, on
the south by East Capitol street. and on
the west by 1st street west, and supposed
to contain 226.157 superficial feet, exclusive
OF avenues, streets and alleys.
Present Act Repealed.
That IAN act to provide for the erection
of a building for the Department of JUS
tice," approved March 3, 1899, is repealed
and the Attorney General is required to
render an immediate accounting to Con-
gress, showing In detail the expenditure
Of the sum Of $4,000 or any part thereof
appropriated under section two of that act
and to return to the treasury of the United
states any part of the sum of $25 900 un-
expended by him in hiring temporary quar-
ters for the use Of the Court of Claims and
In removing the court and its records and
archives thereto, and the sum of 1000 OOO
appropriated in section one of that act to
be expended under the direction of the At
torney General. is hereby diverted from the
objects and purposes therein expressed and
reappropriated for the objects and pur-
poses of this act. ana so much of that ap
preparation as may be required is hereby
made Immediately available for the ac-
QUESTION of the land described in section
one OF this act to be expended under the
direction of the commission, and any un-
expended balance of the appropriation not
required for the acquisition of the land
shall remain in the treasury of the United
States to be applied to the sole and eX
elusive purpose of constructing temple of
justice building hereinafter provided for.
| The commission is hereby authorized to
purchase the land, or any part thereof, as
soon as practicable, at such prices may
be fixed by agreement between the said
commission and the respective owners, not
exceeding the actual cash value thereof,
the same to be ascertained by the COM
mission from the testimony of real estate
experts, or otherwise. 1t may deem
necessary, and payment therefor shall be
made to the respective owners, on the
acquisitions of the commission, upon the re-
lease and conveyance of lands to the United
States by good and sufficient deeds exc
cuted in due form of law; provided, that no
money shall be expended for the purchase
OF land, or any part thereof until the
written opinion of the Attorney General
shall be had in favor of the validity of
the title to said land.
Requirement Provided For.
If the commission shall be unable to
purchase the whole of the land by agree
ment with the respective owners within
ninety days after the passage of this act 1t
shall, at the expiration of such period OF
ninety days, make application to the Su-
preme Court of the District Of Columbia.
dC d general OF Special term, ny DtltlOll
containing a particular description of the
property required with the name of the
owner or owners thereof, which court is
authorized and required, upon such appH-
cation. without delay to appoint i've com
missioners, freeholders of the District of
Columbia, who shall, before entering upon
their duties, take and subscribe an cath
that they are entirely disinterestnd Ii The
purchase or sale of the real estate, and
that they will we'll and truly discharge
their duties as such commissioners; and
they shall then proceed to make inst and
equitable appraisement of the ;ash value
of the several interests of each AMI every
owner of the real estate and Improvement
thereon necessary to be taken for TIE public
use in accordance with the provisions of
this act, which appraisement shall be sub
ject to ratification by the court; and when
the Ques ton of ratification is considered by
the court both the United States and the
owner of the land shall have the right to
introduce Testimony as to the value of the
property and to be heard By counsel or
otherwise.
To Cost 81 100000.
When the commission shall have COM
pleted the purchase of the necessary site.
the land described in section 1 of this act,
it shall proceed at once to construct there
on a fireproof building for the accommoda-
ton of the Supreme Court of the United
States the Department of Justice, the
Court of Appeals for the District of Coum.
bia, the Supreme Court Of the District of
Columbia, the Court of Claims, the Ma
tional Law Library and international COM
missions or congresses. The total cost of
said building. including site, not to exceed
the sum of $7,000,000. The building when
completed to correspond in architectural de-
sign with the Capitol and Congressional
Library building.
The commission shall invite ten architects
or firms of architects of conspicuous ability
and experience to submit competitive de-
cipps for said hui1dinp carefnlly
drawn program, the competition to be ad-
judged by said commission. acting with two
other persons to be selected by the compel
ing architects. The architects firm Of
architects whose design shall thus be ad-
judged most acceptable shall be employed
as architect of the building, to act under
direction Of the office of construction here
matter provided for, and shall furnish all
designs and drawings required for the con-
struction of the building and needful for
its artistic completion. The architect or
pensation for said designs, drawings and
personal services the sum of f per centum
of the total cost Of the building to be paid
from time to time as the work progresses;
and all designs and drawings shall become
the property of the United States. The un-
successful architects or firm of architects
competing by invitation shall each receive
not to exceed the sum Of $1,000; provided.
whether invited or not, may submit plans
ana designs to the commission, and moth
ing IN this act snail prevent the commission
from accepting such plans and designs as
the most acceptable; then and in that case
the architect firm Of architects furnish
ing them shall be employed by the COM
mission: provided, that no money shall be
paid any architect or firm of architects for
plans, designs or services until some plan
or design has been accepted and such plan
and design comes within the limit of cost
prescribed by the provisions Of this act.
Superintendent of Construction.
The construction of said building shall be
placed in charge of officer Of the govern
ment specially qualified for the duty, to
be appointed by the commission, who shall
receive for his additional services an in
crease of 40 per centum in his salary, to be
paid out Of the appropriation for the build
ing. He shall make all contracts and
employ all necessary personal services not
herein otherwise provided for. subject to
the approval Of the commission. and the
funds shall be disbursed as other funds of
the government are disbursed subject to
the approval Of each member of the conf
mission.
If the commission shall purchase ground
containing buildings the commission Is here
by authorized to rent such Of the buildings
as they deem desirable, at fair rental
value, the proceeds to be deposited in the
treasury of the United States to the credit