Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-02
GETS A NEW BUILDING
BILL FOR HOME FOR DEPART
MENT OF AGRICULTURE.
Passed by the House Today Without
Opposition, but With Several
Amendments.

The Senate bill making appropriation for
a new building for the Department or Ae-
riculture was passed by the House To-Day
without opposition or debate. Sevefat
amendments, however, were adopted, hav-
ing been reported from the House commit
tee on public buildings and grounds The
most important of these was one cutting
down the cost of the building from 81 ,5OO,-
600 to 81 500 900. Another provides that the
new building shall accommodate the De-
partment Of Agriculture, Including all of
its bureaus and offices now occupying rent
ed quarters in the District Of Columbia"
The location Of the new building is fixed by
an amendment as Immediately in the rear
Of the present building"
The House was doing business under
suspension of the rules this morning,
when Mr.. Mercer, chairman of the public
buildings and grounds committee, called
the bill up.
Mr.. Richardson, the democratic floor
leader, insisted that second be ordered,
parliamentary procedure which gave to
each side twenty minutes to debate the bill
He explained, however, that he had no OBJ
lection to the bill. but had not been inform
ed that 1t was to have been called up. Mr.
Mercer explained briefly the great need for
the new building on account of the crowded
condition of the Department of Agriculture.
He said the bill had received the unanimous
Endorsement of his committee.
Mr.. Richardson said he would yield his
twenty minutes to any one who wished to
oppose the bill, but there was no response
and the bill was passed without an object
ing vote.
The Bill as Passed.
The bill as passed reads as follows:
THAT the Secretary Of Agriculture be, and
he is hereby, authorized and directed to
cause a suitable and commodious freproof
building, for the use and accommodation Of
the Department of Agriculture, including
all of Its bureaus and offices occupying
rented quarters in the District of Columbia,
to be erected on such portion Of the grounds
Of the Department of Agriculture belonging
to the United States as he may deem expe-
dent Immediately in the rear of the present
building, said building to be constructed in
accordance with the approved plans hereto
fore secured in pursuance of the provisions
of the act of Congress approved March 2,
1901 and he Is hereby authorized, after
due advertisement for proposals, to enter
into contracts within the limit of cost here
by fixed and subject to appropriations to be
made by Congress- for the erection OF said
building complete, including heating and
ventilating apparatus. elevators and ap-
proaches, and the removal of the present
building or buildings Of the Department Of
Agriculture on said grounds.
THAT the supervision of the conStruc-
tion of said building shall be placed in
charge of an officer Of the government es-
pecially qualified for the duty, to be ap-
pointed by the Secretary of Agriculture.
subject to the approval Of the head of the
department in which such officer is en-
ployed, who shall receive for his additional
services an increase of 25 per centum of his
present salary, such increase to be paid
out of the appropriation for the building
herein authorized.
THAT the limit Of cost for the construc-
tton Of said building complete, including
heating and ventilatng apparatus, eieva-
tors and approaches, and the cost for re-
moval of the present building or build
ings of the Department of Agriculture, Is
hereby fixed at 81 100000, and no contract
shall be entered into or expenditure au-
thorized in excess of said amount"
The bill passed the Senate last June.