The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-04-11
NEW public BUILDING
FOR CITY OF RICHMOND
Martin introduced Bill in the
Senate.
PROVIDES FOR A MILLION
But Measure Will Probably MOI
Get Through Committee.
WILL INSPECT PosToFFICl
WILL INSPECT PosToFFIcl.
Chairman Mercer and Members Of tho
Committe on Public Buildings WI
Be Here Saturday to See Con-
ditions for Themselves, and
atLeast Temporary Re-
lief is Hoped for.
Special Dispatch to The Times.)


WASHINGTON, D. c., April 1o.-Sena4
tor Martin has introduced in the Senate
the following bill for the erection of
public building at Richmond:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United States
of America, in Congress assembled, Ihat
the Secretary of the Treasury be. and ID
hereby, authorized and directed to ac-
uuire by purchase, condemnation or Oth.ss-
wise a site for and cause to be erectch
thereon a suitable building. Including
fire-proof vaults, heating and yentilatinH
apparatus, for the use and acc ommodatton
Of the United States posroftice and other
government uses at the CITY OF Rtchmonds
in the State of Virginia The cost OF tho
site and the building thereon, with its ap.
purtenances, to be constructed upon
plans and specifications to be previously
made and approved by the Secretary OF
the Treasury, shall not exceed the sum
Of one million dollars.
Section two. That for the purpose %
installing an elevator and for providing
necessary accommodations for the trans.
action of the postal business in the post
office and custom house building at Rich
mOnd. Va, and to relieve the CouSesteo
condition now existing therein, the See.
retary be, and he is hereby. authorized
and directed to cause the said building
to be enlarged by constructing a one
story addition thereto. at a total cost to
the United States OF not to- exceed thirty
thousand dollars. including all necessary
changes in, alternations to and repairs
of the present building and Of the heat.
ing and plumbing systems which may Do
incident to the enlargement Of said build.
inS.
Section three That after the compile
ton and occupancy of the building pro>z
vided for in section one of this act Jha
Secretary of the Treasury is hereby all
thorized and directed TO sell the present
postoffce and custom house building in
said city at such time and upon such
terms as in his Judgment shall be tD
the best interests of the United States
and to deposit the proceeds thereof in the
treasury of the United States as a miss
cellaneouS receipt. ~ e
This bill is practically the same as 10
House bill
CHANCES SLENDER
from the present outlook the omnibHA
public building bill will be reported by
Chairman Mercer. of the House Commit
tee on Public Buildings and Grounds. in
about ten days. and it may be said with
some degree of certainty that no amend
ments will be added to this bill in tha
Senate. Already the Senate COMMITTEES
on Public Buildings and Grounds has re-
ported bills carrying very large 49,
preparation. and there are several OF ths.
Western States with influential Republi-
can delegations whicf have NOT been
provided for, SO that the chances OF a
favorable report on Senator Martins
bill are very slender. the probability be-
ing that it viii sleep in the committee.
This state of affairs. then, leaves Rich
mond entirely at the mercy of the House
COMMITTEES. Chairman Mercer and sey-
eraI members of the committee will
leave here for Richmond tomorrow night.
and will spend part of Saturday IN that
city looking into the question OF site
and examining the present quarters OF
the postofice and other public Offices.
with view to relieving temporarily their
congested condition There Is little ike
I.hood that the bill for this -ssicn viii
carry an appropriation fora new build
ing, but there Is good chance for. rhs
purchase of "a site and for temporary re-.
Iisf This committee often authorizes
the purchase OF a site a year or more
before it recommends the appropriations
Of money for new building. owing to fhSs
fact that 1t generally takes some time:
to secure a title to lard in the 1ar1ers
cities. so that If. as a result OF the vista
of Mr.. Mercer and his COMMITTEES. R30h-s