The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-03
BILLS FOR NEW HDIFICBS
A Municipal Building and a Tenn
pie of Justice.
Important Local Measures Reported
TO the House of Representatives
with N FayorahIc Recommended
lion - Sites for the Structures on
the Avenue and Capitol Hill.

The House Committee on Public Build
ings and Grounds yesterday ordered Ia
vorable reports on two important local
bills when Mr.. Mercer, Chairman of that
committee, says viii probably be passed
at this session. One of the bills provides
for municipal building for the joint use
of the United States and the District of
Columbia.
The report on the bill follows:
Your committee, to whom was referred
H. R. s7O9, having had the same under
consideration, recommend that all after
the enacting clause be stricken out and
that the following be substituted therefor
and passed:
THAT a commission, hereby created.
consisting of the Secretary of the Treas
ury and the Commissioners Of the District
OF Columbia be, and it is hereby, author
ICED and directed to purchase or other
wise secure for the joint use of the United
States and the District Of Columbia, for
the erection thereon of a municipal build
ing for said District, such land adjacent
10 the south side of Pennsylvania Avenue,
between Seventh and Fifteenth Streets
northwest, as may be determined by said
commission to be most advantageous for
thC tlONlNcus lHEL II Squdtc zJ0
is secured the triangular park and that
portion of Street lying between said
square and Pennsylvania Avenue Is hereby
appropriated and made part of said square
for the purpose OF erecting thereon the
municipal building. And the Commission
ers of the District of Columbia are au-
thorized to change the route of the Wash
fngton, Alexandria and Mount Vernon
Electric Railway in such manner as to
Of L ~
Gated by the tracks of said company.
And provided further that If said COM
mission considers it desirable and advap-
taSeous IL secure squares $50 and 3sl. the
Commissioners OF the District of Column
ba are hereby authorized TO close SO much
OF c Street as may lie between said squares
secured, and the small park ard space be-
tween said squares and Seventh Street
shall be added to said squares for the Dur-
pose Of erecting thereon the municipal
building
Section 2. That said commission is
hereby authorized and directed to purchase
or otherwise secure a site as provided in
section 1. as soon as practicable at such
price as may be agreed upon between said
commission and the owner or owners there
OF ssid price not to exceed the actual cash
value of the property. All offers Of sale
shall be in writing, and no payment shall
be made TO any owner or agent of the
property involved on account on the land
proposed to be sold or purchased, till
written opinion of the Attorney General OF
the United States shall be had In favor CT
the validity Of the title of the square
agreed to be purchased by said commits
sion.
Section 3. That said commission shall
advertise in three daily newspapers pub
lished in the city Of Washington for bids
from the owners OF lots In the SQUARES
and TpEarVafiOpc adfaPant To
side OF Pennsylvania Avenue, between Sey,
cnth Street and Fifteenth Street north
west. said bids must be in writing, and
must state the lowest cash price at which
said lots or squares will be sold.
Section 4. That il said commission shall
not De able TO purchase the necessary sites
fy agreement with the owners thereof in
accordance with the terms and require
ments OF this act. then said commission
shall proceed to acquire by condemnation
such portion es it may rot be able to So
cure by purchase, and such proceedings
shall be in accordance with the provisions
OF the act of Congress approved August
30, 1880. providing a site for the enlarge
ment OF the Government Printing Office.
Section 5. Tha: when said commits ion
shall have compl, ed the purchase Of the
necessary site rs duties shall cease aud
determine, ana the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia shall forthwith take
possession Of said site and proceed AT
once TO have constructed thereon fire.
proof building for the accommodation OF
the municipal Offices OF the District OF
Columbia. the total cost Of said building.
Including cost OF site, not to exceed
s2,500.000 one-half Of which shall be
chargeable to the revenues of the District
OF Columbia. and the other half to be
paid out of any money in the Treasury of
tae United States not otherwise appro-
i,2iated
Section 6. That the Commissioners Of
the District Of Columbia shall iryite six
architects, or firms Of architects. OF con-
spicuous ability and experience. TO sub
init competitive designs for said building.
upon a carefully drawn programme, said