The Washington times., 1904-09-29
Superintendent Woods
Cites Section of Law
on Subject.
OFFICIALS MEET TODAY
1t IS Not Likely Action viii
Be Taken on Tunnel OueS-
tion IillCOngreSS Meets.

The probabilities are now that no fur
ther official action viii be taken before
Congress convenes on the project Of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company TO con-
struct the First Street tunnel by the
open cut instead OF the underground
boring process.
Elliott Woods, Superintendent OF the
Capitol Building and Grounds, viii hold
a conference with certain legal officials
or the Interior Department this after
noon TO decide. If possible, whether or
not he is deprived OF authority 10 issue
or refuse the permit by the terms Of the
deficiency act OF two years ago. wherein
Il was stipulated that iu Jhe future the
Capitol or the grounds should not he
changed, altered. or affected in any man
ner without express permission from
Congress.
Woods Quotes Deficiency Act.
'I shall hold an informal conference
on the matter late this afternoon with
the law officials Of the Interior Depart
menr. said Mr Woods 60 a Times re-
porter this morning. The deficiency act
OF TWO years ago, in changing the title
OF this ONCE from Architect of the Can
itol 10 that OF Superintendent OF the
Capitol Building and Grounds, express
IS said that i'm the future, no changes
were 10 be made In the building or
grounds without permission from Con-
gress.
There is no reason why this law
should not hold good now, so far as
can see If it does that ends the mat
ter so FAR as I am concerned
Section Bearing on Problem.
The act referred TO By BIr. Woods was
passed by Congress February ~. 1892.
and the section bearing on the present
problem reads as follows:
Hereafter the ofhce OF Architect OF
the Capitol shall be designated as SUI
perinteudent Of the Capitol Building and
Grounds, and the Superintendent OF the
Capitol Building and Grounds shall here
after exercise all the power and au-
thority heretofore exercised by the
Architect Of the Capitol and he shall
he appointed by the President
provided. That no change in the ar
cnlLecIlral gestures OF the Capitol
building or in rue landscape features OF
the Capitol grounds shall be made ex-
cept on plans 10 be approved by Con
gress-
Would Mean Destruction OF Trees.
This, IL Is thought will leave the de-
Cisiou Of tie whole matter with Con-
gress, as the construction OF the tunnel
by the opeu-cut plan would mean the
destruction or uees and sidewalks IN
The District Commissioners are await
Ing developments. They do not feel
called on 10 make any recommendation
on the matter so long as MT. Woods is
apparently. without authority 20 issue
the rrst permit requisite for the change
IN plans.
Would Bring Sickness.
District Commissioner West TODAY re-
fcrred 10 the Health Omcer for report
a letter he received from Horace A.
Dodge. OF the law hrm OF Dodge & Sons.
saying that the construction OF the tun-
mel by the open cur plan would bring
much sickness into the ueighborho1d of
the work The letter says.
III uu deTsIanQ correctly the omen
ing I'D Of the tunnel along First street
north OF u street has caused more or
less sickness OF a serious nature and
doubtless. u4Ors viii follow.
This aspect Of the situation seems 10
me 10 merit serious COusIdera alton. and
view ID. than the mere annoyance OF the
steam shovel which undoubtedly viii
Dc employed In the open cut
Engineering Officials Object.
Although the names are withheld.
there were found at the District Build
ing today engineering omciaIs who OBJ
jected 10 the proposed open cut method
Tor The tunnel They pointed ont that
IL must be possible Tor the contractors
% construct the tunnel since SO many
much more clmCIllt Lunueling teats
have already been accomplished
throughout this country and Europe.