Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-22
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PUBLIC Bull DINGS
Representative Mercer on
Their Need id This City.
Y
BEAUTIFY TEE CAPITAL
WHAT THE aovERNMENr PAYS
OUT IN RENT.
As a Business Proposition It Should
As Business Proposition It Should
Buy the Ground on South Side Of
Pennsylvania Avenue.

81 wish 1t were possible to expend $50 OOO-
600 for the erection of public buildings for
government use in Washington" said
Chairman Mercer of the House committee
on public buildings and grounds to a Star
representative this morning, land I would
like to the plans drawn up and the
foundations dug this spring.
1.-THE many kind remarks which the citi-
zens of Washington have made regarding
the appropriation of $1,5OO,0O0 for their
much-needed municipal building have been
gratifying to the committee, the members
of which fully feel the urgency of the pres
ent situation. 1t was as equally gratifying
to us to be able to pass the necessary legis-
lation at this session, and all concerned
may look forward to the speedy erection of
the municipal building, and on a site south
of Pennsylvania avenue, where all future
government Office buildings should be con-
Structed.
|. I'm fact there are one or two points
garding the erection of public buildings in
Washington which ought, think to COM
mand the serious and early attention of
Congress. 1t is subject IN which 1 take
a deep interest, and now that good be-
ginning has been made let US all hope that
there will be no cessation in the continu-
ance of the good work. - =
As Business Proposition.
81 think that this subject should be view
ed from the standpoint Of three very i'm
portant elements. First, as business
proposition. 1t is a trite saying that were
the business of firm conducted upon q
basis Of percentage of loss it would soon
go into bankruptcy, yet the government
pays in rentals of private quarters scatter
ed all over the city, often in inconvenient
localities 10 per cent on gross sum which
the totals of these rentals represent when
4 per cent would be enough. The govern
ment would save money from the start in
approprlating gross sum for adequate
once quarters as the aggregate sum paid
out In rentals would in few years amount
TO more than enough to build one fine,
large building, and in a decade or So sew
eral of such buildings
AS business proposition, the govern
ment would make money by buying outright
the entire triangle bounded by Sd and 18th
Smiths Eround and s the
docks or portions thereof as from time to
Tune were deemed necessary to public use
and collecting rent :! from the business
houses the same as an Individual This
triangle ought to have been bought by the
government long ago, and, while the prop
ositlon suggest may lat first glance seem
large. 1t Is as simple hits entirety as in
the case of smaller city. For instance
in Atlanta. Ga. the government will soon
own an entire block, dis Congress will an
thorize the purchase Of the remainder of
TUG pioch now owned by the government,
and upon which are situat ed. large and we'll
paying rented buildings When the govern
ment desires this unused portion of the
block the structures thereon must go, but
until 1t does. it receives satisfactory sums
lists in Rochester, N. Y.seWhere the gov
eminent will aeauirethe ground upon
which is situated large office building
ana VIII derive rental therefrom until such
time as it needs the ground space Further
more, in each of these Instances we are
getting the property at a figure which is
| very reasonable.