Evening star., 1902-03-24
NEW PUBLIC BUILDINGS
TWENTY MILLIONS NOT TOO
MUCH TO SPEND.
Views of Chairman Mercer-Proposed
Executive Ofices-Supreme Court
and Department of Justice.

Twenty million dollars would not be any
too much for Congress to spend for public
buildings in Washington at the present
session.
This statement was made to a represen-
tative of The Star by Representative Mer-
Ger Of Nebraska. chairman OF the House
committee on public buildings and grounds,
as the elimination Of an expression of his
views on what was needed in the way of
new buildings in this city, and especially
regarding enlarged quarters for the Presi-
dent.
Mr. Mercer had prolonged talk on this
latter subject with President Roosevelt re-
Gently. and while he did not feel at liberty
to repeat the views Of the President. he did
not hesitate to state how the situation pre-
sented itself to himself.
More Room for the President.
There is no definite proposition at pres
ent being considered for an executive build
ing for the President, and certainly not for
the erection Of new residential mansion
for the President. The general subject of
enlarged quarters for the executive, how
ever, is being most earnestly considered.
ITO my mind there is most decided OBJ
lection to altering In any manner the ap-
pearance Of the White House. This build
ing is beautiful. and the associations sur
rounding 1t make it almost sacred. 1t
should be the residence of the President Of
the United States. and it Is substantial
enough to serve this purpose for many dec
AIDES. The lower floors should be left just
as they are for official receptions and so
cial functions. The upper hoor, II the Of
fees were removed, would afford ample res
idential quarters, and could be rearranged
for this purpose" =
''Is there objection to the Senate proposi-
tiOn to erect building to accommodate
the executive offices and the Departments
Of State and Justice?"
Doesn't 1t seem that the President
should be entitled to separate building?
was the rejoinder.
Separate Building for President.
'It strikes me that it would be rather In
appropriate to provide Offices for the Presi-
dent in a building with members OF his
cabinet, bureau chiefs and government
clerks There has been constant talk that
it would not do to separate by any consid-
erable distance the Department Of Justice
and the Presidents quarters. but do not
see the force OF this argument.
"A building occupying relative POSI-
ton to the Capitol that the Congressional
to be used by the Attorney General and
Supreme Court, would make group OF
buildings on Capitol Hill which for archl-
tectural beauty and scenic effect could not
Do eQualeO In the world. Inc pIoposeu He"
union station would also add Its influence
to the effect of this group. II the President
should have separate Office down town, ne
could have q private telephone connecting
him with the Attorney General, and If a
personal interview were necessary 1t would
not be a long drive for the Attorney Cen
eral from the CAPITOL"
Mr. Mercer remarked that It was exceed
ingly hard for Congress to keep up with
the growth Of the country when 1t came to
making provision for the transaction OF
the public business.
Right here In Washington" he con-
tinued, ''the government Is paying enor-
NOUS sums for rent each year when 1t
ought to own it's buildings" Then fol-