The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-16
FOR IMPROVING THE CITY.
The CommIs-ioners' Views on Bill,
Before the Senate.

| The Commissioners yesterday returned
and 1851 to the Senate Committee on the
| District OF Columbia with q statement Of
! their views upon the same. In the letter
| of transmittal the Commissioners say that
| Senate resolution 1879 provides for a COM
| mission TO consist of two architects and
one landscape architect. who shall con-
slider the subject of .ha location and
grnras..EE.ss OF public buildings and monu-
ments. and the development and improve
/ ment Of the entire park system of the
I District, and II makes therefor an ap-
preparation of $4,000.
The Commissioners call attention 10 the
fact that Senate bill No. 5195 provides for
an advisory board of public works to con-
sist of ten persons, five OF whom shall be
the chairmen of the Committees on the
District of Columbia of the Senate and
House of Representatives, and the Com
missioners of the District. who shall pre-
pare a general plan for the Improvement
of the city of Washington, including
memorial bridge. boulevards, public parks
and location of buildings, together with
such other plans of Improvement and or
namentation of the city of Washington as
may be considered expedient and desir-
able to be included in one scheme, the
board TO serve without compensation.
1t is further stated by the Commits
sioners that Senate bill No. 1851 provides
for the appointment of board of ten per-
sons. FIVE of whom shall be the same az
provided for in bill 5195. the object of the
board being to act a memorial bridge
commission to consider the design recon-
mended by George Keller, Of Hartford.
Conn, and the design recommended by the
Board of Engineers, U. S. A, and report
their selection to Congress. Continuing
the Commissioners say:
ut will be seen from the foregoing
statement that bill 1885, embraces the
others in its scope, and it is broader than
either of them 1t is on that account be-
lieved by the Commissioners to be more
worthy of enactment than the others, as
it is believed the whole subject of the
improvement OF the city can best be treat
ed in a comprehensive plan rather than by
piecemeal. Furthermore it is believed
that the questions to be considered can
be handled better by board, some OF
whose members are thoroughly familiar
with the conditions prevailing than by a
board, the members of which will have
to become acquainted with the whole sub
ject after their appointment. and on this
account it is recommended that in Section
OF bill 5195 the officer in charge of the
park system of the city of Washington
be included as a member OF the board.
The bill would then allow the appropria-
tion of $40 900. or SO much thereof as may
be necessary, be made to cover the ex-
penses Of the board
"A further advantage of personnel, as
named in bill 5195. is that its members,
or at least a large number OF them. will
be at all times available for the giving OF
information to Congress, and making such
explanations as Congress or any OF its
committees may require. L has been the
experience with boards heretofore to con-
slider questions of Importance at the Ma
tional Capitol that the board having made
its report and separated to other parts
of the country, its n embers were mac
cessibie when questions arose in regard
to the report or upon m3t-ers closely con-
rected Herewith"