The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-07-31
Square No. 145 Again.
Secretary Shaw Insists Upon Purchas-
ing That Site for a Hall of Records.

Secretary Shaw has decided to
purchase square 143 as a site for the
proposed Hall of Records. He
bases his decision, as we understand
the matter, upon the act Of Congress,
which leaves him no discretion. he
thinks, other than that Of buying
this particular square, though it per
mits him to exercise his Judgment as
TO whether he shall acquire the prop
erty by purchase or condemnation
proceedings.
Leaving out of consideration the
question Of the price to be paid for
the proper1s-whieh we are perfectly
willing 10 admit viii not be excessive,
If Secretary Shaw is allowed to have
his way-we think that the decision
to purchase square 143 is to be de-
plored from any and every possible
point of view. It is blow to the city
as whole, and can benefit no one.
except clique Of interested real
estate spectators and holders of
property in the neighborhood Of the
proposed building 1t is a wasteful
expenditure of public money, mas
much as the Government owns land
today on which the building could.
and should, be erected. 1t Is an open
defiance by a gang of selfish PILLS
tines of all the well-eonsidered plans
Of experts for the Identification of
the city. It is an outrage. perpe-
trated IN the name of Congress. upon
the helpless taxpayer of the District, |
who is called upon to make up the
loss IN tax receipts, caused by the
withdrawal of this square from the
list of assessable property in the city. |
Against this the Secretary of the
Treasury urges what?
First, that if he doesn't purchase.
Congress next winter viii want TO
know the reason why. We think it
would not be difficult to convince
Congress-if the desire to do so were
really strong it had been made
the victim of sharpers in authorizing
the payment of 100000 for proper
ty which everybody comedies now,
Secretary Shaw included, is not
worth more than 100000. Does the
Secretary, in other words, wish to be
understood as believing that Congress
would visit him or his administration
with displeasure for having prevent
ed misstep on its part, while yet it
was time, or for having protected the
public treasury against a raid by a
lobby?
Does he really think that Congress
Is so foolish, or so corrupt, as to as
sumo a none-of-your-bUsiness att
tude, if its attention were to be di-
rected by competent authority to the
nature Of a transaction into which it
had blundered some time before ?
Does he maintain that the laws Of
Congress are, ike those Of the Modes
and Persians, irrevocable, and that It
Is a sacrilege to array against them
common sense and the interests Of the
defenseless taxpayer?
Second, Secretary Shaw says that
3 Hall of Records is absolutely neces-
saIy and that we cannot any longer
do without one; in fact, that if we
dc not seize the present opportunity. ,
God only knows when Congress will
again be moved to loosen the Govern
ment's purse strings sufficiently to
permit the erection Of a storchouse q
IN which 90 deposit the accumulated
wisdom Of past Administrations
Granted that such storage room is q
crying necessity indeed, we agree
with the Secretary in desiring to see
IL provided promp1Iy-can he assign
a single reason why he should not Sc
ect any one of half a dozen pieces
Of property. now owned by the Gov
eminent and designated rs sites for ?
public buildings in the Burnham =
Commission plan, as a place in every $
way suited to the purpose in hand? ?
Why this nervous haste to obey tho
mandates of Congress. when an ap.
Is involved, and the tor
oise-like deliberation when 1t comes
@ a question Of cutting down expen-
litures? Cannot the whole matter
DC deferred a short three months, or
3ntil November, when Congress is to
meet in extra session?
IN opposing the purchase Of square b
.43 we have IN mind the welfare of
he city as a whole, and not that of
NY one particular section. The cree