The Washington times., 1902-04-13
President WithdraWS De-
mand for Separate Ex-
eCutive Offices.
BILL FAVORABLY REPORTED
Provides for Housing of State and JUS
tice Departments and Executive Of
fees in One Structure-To Cost S.
100000.

The bill for Executive, State. and Justice
Building to occupy the square north of
the present State. War, and Navy Build
| ing. has been reported favorabIy to the
Senate by Senator Fairbanks. chairman
| Of the Committee on Public Buildings
and Grounds.
| The report is accompanied by Ietterl
from Assistant Secretary Hill, Secretary
| Long. Attorney General Knox. and Secre-
| tary Root. and Senator Mcmillan, chair.
| man of the Senate District Committee,
| al! containing statistics and facts regard
ing the crowded condition of the public
buildings. and warmly commendatory Of
| the idea, so that II is thought to have Q
good chance of being enacted into law.
Presidents Opposition Removed.
President Roosevelt was not at first en-
tirely friendly to the plan to place ths
executive Offices In such q building, but
it is understood that he has changed his
opinion. 1t has been pointed out to him
that at some future time when the neces-
slty arises a building for the executive
Offices alone can be built. SO that tho
present plan Is not to be considered a
permanent and unalterable one.
The bill has been described heretofore
in The Times. 1t provides that on
square 1877. one Of the squares of tho
Park Commission plan designated as a
site for the Government buildings. shall
be built a magnificent marble and granite
building. to cost 5000, 900. exclusive Of
the site. 1t will be divided into three
parts. one each for the executive offices.
the Department Of Justice, and the De-
partment Of State.
The purchase OF the site and the seIec-
tion OF plan is to be under the direction
OF the Secretary OF State and the Attor-
ney General. with the approval of the
President.
The site is to be secured by purchase
from the present owners. or by condemns.
tion.
The Committee Report,
The report Of the committee says in
part:
1T would seem that the time had coms
to take some decisive steps toward max
ing better and ampler provision to meet
the necessities c: :te great executive de-
partmerts of the Government. Entire re-
lief will not be secured by the passage Of
the measure before the Senate. but that
very considerable relief will be afforded
Is manifest. Competent architects have
advised the committee that the three de-
partments contemplated by the present
bill may be we'll accommodated for the
present. and for reasonable time in the
,uture at least, in the same building.
The committee is OF the opinion that
n M tfoh 10 1nIy
could be made than is proposed in the
pending bill. bringing into close commun-
on with each other those departments Of
he Government most closely allied
1t may be well to remember that in
providing for the actual needs of the Gov
ernment service in the accompanying bill
he building proposed is in entire har-
nony with the plans OF the Park Com
mission for the permanent Improvement
'f Washington, as Is shown by a letter
rom Senator Mcmillan. chairman of the
Committee on the District of Columbia,
which is appended to this report 1t
should be borne in mind. however. that
he building to be erected Is not to be
constructed for the purpose of promoting
such plans or committing the Govern
nent to them in any measure. The COM
nittee merely adverts to the fact that in
acquiring the site proposed to meet the
he public service the property acquired
will be in harmony with and not contrary
o the plans mentioned, and that should
uch plans be approved in the future
iothing will have been done under the
,ending bill which will conflict with or
IMPAIR them in any respect.
Facilities Inadequate.
The rapid growth of the country has
iprraa sod rho uacassijv
or additional accommodations for the
of the public business in
This Is perfectly manifest to
'veryone who has had to do with public
fairs. Efficiency and economy require
hat the facilities should be at all times
dequate. A prudent and successful busi-
less concern keeps pace with its expand
ng necessities, but the Government has
pursued q contrary policy. and almost
very department in Washington is great
y crowded, and private property is occu-
lied and has been occupied for many
ears in various portions of the city to
the overflow. If the Govern
nent were to spend reasonable amount
to provide for the increasing
nd reasonable requirements of It's own
BUSINESS the amount would seem to be
small but when the ne
essities are allowed to accumulate the
appropriations when finally made seem
o be unnecessarily large. Delay in max
ng needed improvements is not wise
economy. They must ultimately be made,
nd when made the Government must pay
he enhanced cost of property required
he~efor
'.It is poor policy for the Government
0 pay tribute to the owners OF private
ropcrty for the accommodation of its
siness-property which is poorly suited
o the speedy and economical dispatch OF
he public business.
The committee is of the opinion that
uildings erected in Washington for the
of The executive business
+ the country should be so built as to
tand for many years to come. They
hould be of such architecture and of
Ich material as will be in entire har-
lony with the strength and dignity of
lc nation. There should be comparatively
w such buildings ana they should he
lade TO reflect credit upon the country
nd be objects of admiration to the peo-
lie and physical manifestations of the
ountry's progress and grandeur to those
ON abroad who may visit the National
apital
Object of the Bill
THE object of the bill as amended is to
rovide for the immediate and Imperative
ecessities for additional space for the
of five great departments
the Government. 1t contemplates the
-ection. on block 167. of building TO
: used for executive offices and for the
apartment of State and the Department
Justice. and. by thus relieving the pres
Mt War. State. and Navy building OF the
apartment of State. to afford more room