New-York tribune., 1902-04-30
MILLIONS FOR BUILDINGS.
o,,<1Rrs BILL PASSED BY THE HOUSE.
LIVELY DEBATE OVER THE NE"-Iokk
POsTOFFICE PROVISION.
rpy rrLrGgAru TO THE TRIBUSE.1

fry TELrGEArTt TO TRIpUSE.I
Washington April 29.-The House to-day. under
snecial order which allowed three hours deoa'e'
but cut off all opportunity Of amendment passeu
an Omnibus Public Buildings bill. which VIII as
tribute 81 4o5 $50 among ia cities AS the OH
covers into the Treasury H.5s5cV the total aiou''
carried Is reduced to S15,S20i5o The Dill pro'lue'
for seventy-seven new buildings and SITES SIX
bu,Id,rPs on sites already purchased seventeen
buildings on presented sites and hfty-eiSht
In appropriations for buildings already huiHoil-eu'
II also provides for the purchase OF sixteen s''e'
,rhe hill contains a provision for the appointment
NJ commission 10 select site for new postohlce
huiIdtng I'm New-York City, and increases the ap-
propriatton for the New-York Custom House from
81 90 10 81 c.onp The majority Tor the OH "dS
SO overwhelming that only nine members packed
demand for the ayes and noes on the Hhdi Sote
1-bers was some criticism OF the method by whtch
Il vas proposed 10 pass the bill without opportunity
for amendment. which Mr. Mercer. chairman oI the
Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds
answered by saying that II the bill had been SUBJECT
TO amendment the appropriations chffleu DS II
would have been increased TO stONvlU"
The House resaled by rather humorous
encounter between Chairman Mercer and REPRE-
sentative C;oldfogle. Of New-fork CITY MI ''oiu
rogles feelings been ruftied for several DAYS
past by the nsinuaton, spread untustIy, no douo''
among his constituents that he and other New
York City Representatives have failed 10 impress
on Mr. Mercer's committee the necessity OF erec'-
ing a new postoffice building in New-York Mr..
he a,d the other New-York City Representatives,
bv their III timed activity in debate had done more
than any other three in the body 10 retaiu '"e
legislation which they apparently had at hear,. An
amusing colIoquy followed. in which Mr. mercer
commented with some brusqueness on the curious
,aeaa some members had of the best means OF
benefting their constituencies. and althoush ne
did not press the moral, II was evident from his
remarks that he could see no reason why new
York City should look for special legislative favors
Sb peTS
a constantly changing and inexperienced de'esa''o"
to the lower house. .
Nv Mercer said that his committee had consd-
cred bills carrying appropriations assregaune So''
o00 90 The committee recognized the necessity loi
public buildings but all could not be provided iof
at this session of Congress. There would be other
Congresses after this. The committee hao cafeluiiS
considered all the bills, and the present measure
had been the result The committee cour'e" III
vestigation.
NJ co,dtoo1e INTERRUPTED Mr.. Mercer to ask
xhetber he thought New York City had been treat
,i fairly in the bill.
let me say now" said Mr.. Mercer. that the
three gentlemen from New-York who have been oc-
cupying the time of this House demanding iesls
lation for New-York have done more than ah
other influences combined TO retard IL MUCH 10
the amusement of the House he proceeded 70 assam
Messrs Creamer, Lessler and GoldfolSie Tor 'heir
misdirected efforts Had the legislation depended
on them said there would have been n9'9ing nm
in the bill for New-York City he declared tnat
Mission Was au to select site without limit of cost
That commission he said, would have many prop
lens to solve and 1t would require from SIX
months to two years to secure site After the the
site was selected the building could be provided for
The rule then adopted, loo 10 SS ana the oe-
ba began. ., ..- II,
utes to pointing out the necessity for new public
building In New-York. 40,
Mr. C,oldfogle replied to the remarks of Mr..
Mercer defending his course and that of his col
LEAGUES relative to the New-York postoffce
Mr. Mercer interrupted MI Godfogle TO repeat
what he had said earlier in the day: and TO add
the further statement that Mr. Cummings. OF New
York whom he described the "noblest Roman
of them all" had done everything in his power to
advance the Nev--York postoffice project by fur
nishing data and information to the committee but
he insisted that Mr.. Goldfogle and some of his
colleagues had impeded progress. This statement
involved him in lively controversy with Mr.
| raised a laugh by saving that two New-York
members had this morning asked him who their
Colleague from New-York (Mr Goldfogle)
The debate exhausted itself before the three
| hours expired. and the bill passed.
| The House then resumed. but did not finish. con-
! sideraton of the Agricultural Appropriation bill