Evening star., 1902-02-15
Representative Mercer on the
Districts Need.
HIS BILL SHOULD PASS
THE CAPITAL SHOWN TO BH
ABREAST WITH OTHER CITIES.
Character Of the Edifice That Should
Be Erected = Other Repre-
sentatives' Views.

municipal building or city hall, are encour-
aged by the bill recently introduced into
the House by Chairman Mercer of the COM
mittee on public buildings and grounds.
Mr.. Mercer is likewise hopeful that the
bill will be taken up at this session Of Con.
gress and passed. In discussing the mat
ter with a Star representative this morning
he said:
Il have gone somewhat into the Ques-
ton, and find that Washington is far be-
hind other cities of approximate popula ton
on the score OF municipal buildings. In
short, this city is in much need of several
public buildings Of a municipal character,
as suitable morgue, better police stations.
better police headquarters and quarters fo1
the various branches of the city and Dis
trict government.
The bill l have introduced contemplates
providing quarters for the city and District
government In manner compatible with
the Importance and size of the capital. !
fail to see the good policy Of the govern
ment paying a high rate Of interest In
rents when We are refunding our bonds at
3 per cent and allowing the money to lie
idle In the treasury.
Favors Pennsylvania Avenue Site.
Il favor for many reasons the selection
OF the south side OF Pennsylvania avenue
for the erection of the proposed municipal
DululnS. Inc Dill Allows open competition
among owners Of property along the south
side Of that avenue between eth and 18th
streets. This will enable the government
to select the block which may be offered
upon the most favorable terms, and which
would appear to be best adapted to the To-
cation of the new building.
THE bill should pass. The people or
Washington want a municipal building
without further delay. There were no ap.
preparations for initial construction of pub
lie buildings by Congress at the last ses-
sion, the only legislation along these lines
being for increase and improvements. Con-
gress can. therefore, well take up the bill
at this session, and give the citizens OF the
capital what is most urgently needed.
1T seems strange that a city of the size
and Importance OF Washington. and the
capital of the nation as we'll should not
have a city hail. and is obliged to house
it's municipal offices and officials i'll plain
office building on side street, as the court
house in Judiciary Square is not the mu-
nicipal building, If l may thus be permit
ted to correct several Of my friends who
have recently spoken to me on the subject.
Washingtons municipal building Ia across
the street in rented quarters which run
back to an alley. where there is another
rented, plain brick building, also occupied
by city officials and the police department.
Should Not Neglect the Capital.
Now. most emphatically, this should not
be the case The capital must not be neg
lected in this manner. 1t Is not right.
While it is true that facts and figures show
that Congress cannot keep pace with our
great national growth In the building OF
public structures in the various cities.
Washington must not be included In the
oversight. And 1t should have the right
kind Of a building, too.
by this I mean a white marble structure
Of classic design and Of sufficient size to
meet the needs of future generations. for
the capital is destined to become great
city. 1t should not be built flush to the
sidewalk, as is the post Office building, and
must be of a decided architectural improve
ment upon that structure; but with little
parking around. as Is proposed around the
new executive building at 18th street and
Pennsylvania avenue. l opposed the erec-
tion Of the contemplated Department Of
Justice building at the corner Of Madison
place and Pennsylvania avenue for, one
reason, that a tall building there flush with
the street would mar what is conceded TO
be of the finest vistas in any city and
would be incongruous to it's immediate his
torcal surroundings.
"One reason why the Congressional
Library is so effective is because of it's
parking, and let us all trust that the day
Is past in Washington when public build
ings will be erected without being placed a
suitable distance back from the street, ad-
mitting Of better light. air and perspective
effect.
1T is now conceded that the government
made mistake in not acquiring all OF the
nue. years ago and converting it to it's own
use. The project is admitted to be too
large to take all this land In at once at
the present time. but by selecting block
by block this eyesore and unpleasant quar-
ter of the, city may be converted into a
section which will be a credit to the town
and be made beautiful and useful
Views of Other Representatives
Representative Bankhead thought that
objection might be raised to the bill In its
present form. In that It did not designate
the choice of a specific block upon which
the building was to be erected.
He believed, he said. that Washington
should have a municipal building, and was
in favor of taking the block between 14th
and 18th streets for District building. and
the site Of the old power house. adjoining
on the east, for hall of records. But. he
thought, Congress should designate in the
hill what property was to be taken rather
than leave 1t to the selection of commis-
sion or to anybody other than Congress.
Representative Jenkins of the District
committee said that he thought the propo-
sition to locate public buildings on Penn.
sylvanfa avenue was a good one, and he
trusted to see in due time upon that f1no
thoroughfare city building which would
do justice to the capital.
Representative Brown of Wisconsin said
that the question Of the location OF tho
public buildings was one OF great import
ance 10 the city ana 10 the members OF
both houses OF Congress- and that they
should be situated In as close proximity as
possible. Senators and representatives
spent large portion Of their time in VISIT
ing the different departments. and 1t would
be of the greatest convenience If these
buildings were but square or two apart,
instead Of being scattered all over the city.
as at present. He thought that the south
side Of the avenue afforded a splendid loca-
ton for future structures OF this kind and
that he believed In liberal appropriation
for a municipal building for Washington.
Representative Thompson Of Georgia CO.
incided with the views Of other members,
believing that the proposition to gradually
erect public buildings on the south side OF
PENNSYLVANIA avenue would solve d ques-
ton which had long been one of perplexity
here He thought that the report of the
committee on public buildings and grounds
favoring such a project would receive the
attention in the House which its import
ance deserved.
Representative Davidson Of Wisconsin
said that he did not think that the Ques-
ton Of the specific block upon which the
municipal building should be erected cor
responded in Importance with the urgent
necessity of such building.
ANY one of several blocks In the section
contemplated" he said, will admirably At
the purpose for which the building Is in
tended. think that the idea OF leaving
the selection of the property open to com.