The Washington times., 1902-01-08
$3,OOO,OOO for State and
Justice Building.
BILL EXPECTED TO BECOME LAW.
Introduced by Senator Fairbanks
Mny Pass Within n MOnth-Struc-
ture to Occupy n Whole Square on
Pennsylvania Avenue, Lafayette
Place-Conforms With New Park
ing Plan.

! A magnificent new public building for
the accommodation of the Department of
State and the Department of Justice is
provided for in bill introduced in the
Senate yesterday by Senator, Fairbanks,
| Chairman of the Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds. The bill car
ries an appropriation CT SO 090. 900. and Sc
lects the square across Pennsylvania
Avenue from the State, War and Navy
Department Building as the site for the
! new structure.
The bill was referred to the Commit
tee on Public Buildings and Grounds and
will be favorably reported from that COM
! mittee within a short period, and it is
expected that it will pass both houses of
Congress within a month.
Long-FeIt Want to 8e Met.
The bill introduced by Senator Fair
banks embraces a new idea in tie scheme
of public buildings in Washington. The
necessity for a home for the Department
! of Justice has long been one Of the great
needs Of the Government This depart
Inent is now occupying temporary quar-
ters On X Street, in the old Hotel Baltic,
and was SO crowded that it was rcces
sary to rent the adjoining building. and
also a residence on Jackson Place.
1t was first expected that a new De-
partment of Justice Building would be
erected on the vacant site on Pennsyl-
yana Avenue adjoining the Lafayette
Theatre. The crowded condition of the
State and Navy Department building how
ever, led TO a change in plans, and now
the State Department and the Department
of Justice will be housed under one roof.
and the old granite building at the corner
of Seventeenth Street and Pennsylvania
Avenue will be devoted entirely to the use
Of the War and Navy Departments.
Buildings in the NeiehborhoOd.
The site selected is known 1as square
sixt, seven, and is considered one of the
most desirable locations in the city for 4
public building. The old Corcoran Art
Gallery stands on the site, and this prop
erty is now owned by the Government.
The Bureau of American Republics is at
the corner of Jackson Place dIDd Pennsyl-
yania Avenue, and is leased bybthe Gov
ernment. The square is a large one, and
on the corner of Jackson Place and II
Street stands the old Decatur house, one
Of the most historic mansions in atiIe city.
Across the street is the Corcoran man
sion, the residence of Senator sDepew.
Another important point about the bill
is that it carries out, in part the Park
Commissions plans for beautifying the
city in the placing of public buildings.
The commission recommends the cree
tion of public buildings on the three sides
of the quadrangle, known as Lafayette
PARK, and as the Government owns or
will acquire the two corners on Pennsyl
vania Avenue facing the park, it is be-
lieved that the Park Commissions plan
will be carried out within a few years.
To Occupy square.
The new Department of State and De-
partment of Justice building will oe-
cupy the entire square. and will have
entrances on all four Sides SO that it
will really front on the park!s5n Penn
sylvania Avenue, on Seventeenth, and on
H Streets. l9Cp1g
The sum appropriated. s330O0eo0. is
believed to be sufficient to ere1t mag
nifcent building fully large enough for
the needs Of the two departments; which
really require less room thahF any other
two departments in the citypon7o
Both the Secretary of State and thc
Attorney General are much pleased with
the idea OF combining the two depart
ments in one building. and have given
their hearty approval to the bill in
troduced by Senator irbanks.
War Department Needs Room.
The War Department is crying for
room, and the new building will be pushed
TO conclusion in order to give the War
Department the additional room In the
old building now occupied by the State
Department. Even with this additional
room, however. the War Department will |
still be crowded for space and have to |
occupy outside buildings. 1t is predicted |
that within a few years the War Depart |
ment will occupy the entire building now |
devoted to the three departments. and |
that there will be an additional building |
for the Navy Department.
The Navy Department building. when it |
NAAl a