The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-26
President Objects to Hav-
ing Office With State and
Justice Departments.
VIEWS SENT TO THE SENATE
Plan viii Be Abandoned by Committee
on Public Buildirgs-0ther Sugges-
lions Under Consideration - Parking
Commissions Project.

President Roosevelt has notified the
Congressional public buildings committees
that he does not wish the executive Of
fees to be placed in a building with the
Departments of State and Justice, accord
ing to the plan that has been under con-
sideration.
The executive. state and justice build
ing" project will be given up, therefore,
and other plans will be made either at
this session or later, both for the two
department buildings and for the Offices
of the President.
Must Have Separate Building.
President Roosevelt is understood TO be-
lieve that no portion of the executive es-
tablishment should be placed in any
building except its own. He is said to
be in favor of some improvement of the
present facilities. but ii is not under
stood that he has as yet formulated any
plan or decided to favor any of those al
ready proposed.
Four Plans Suggested.
The four plans so far suggested are:
For an executive residence in the heights
in the northwest; for an enlargement of
the present White House by the addition
of wings; for a separate building for the
executive offices simply. and the present
scheme for a portion of building for the
Offices.
The first three plans may any of them
be chosen.
The Parking Commissions Plan.
The plan of the Parking Commission con-
templated an executive building directly
north of the White House across Lafay-
cite Square. This suggestion firds favor
with many people in official circles. and
is understood 10 meet with the sanction
of the Senate District Committee also.
The Senate Committee on Public Build
ings and Grounds. which was the author
of the executive, state and justice building
plan. will probably soon offer modified
bill for a building to accommodate sim
ply the State and Justice Departments.
Plan Likely to Fail.
1t is feared. however, that Congress
cannot be persuaded to appropriate such
q large sum as was contemplated for
these two departments alone, and it is
possible that the entire plan will fail.
AS stated heretofore in The Times. this
building was to be one of the finest of the
Government structures, a rival of the
Congressional Library Building.
Character of Building.
The design planned by one of the lead.
ing architects of the country was fo- a
structure somewhat similar to the Con-
gressional Library in outward appear
b,,t i+I, Iii rl,Y ind nf ha
division into three portions that was to
be marked in the interior. The build
ing was to cost 81 900 eco.
Senator Fairbanks. before preparing the
bill and the report, had conferred with
the different departments concerned, and
the plan had been warmly commended
by all of then, it is said.
Need for More Room.
Secretary Root had written note TO
be incorporated IN the report, calling at
tention to the great need Of additional
accommodation for his department. The
unfortunate condition OF the Department
OF Justice. occupying rented quarters nct
in any way suited to it, was dwelt on by
the Attorney General. The State Depar-
nent people INDICATED tneT great desire
for better quarters.
Good Chance for Passage
It was believed by Senator Fairbanks
that the bill would be passed by Congress
with all these recommendations, and es-
pecially in view of the fact ;hat large
amount of annual rental would be saved.
During the early discussion of the plan.
it is understood. The President tacitly
agreed TO 1t, though he is believed not
to have been enthusiastic at any time.
A few days ago he suggested that If the
building were to contain the executive Of
fees IL should be understood that they
would be separated entirely from other
portions of the buildings and have sep
arate entrances of their own.
His disapproval of the entire plan was
announced on Monday.