Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-26
PASSED BY THE SENATE
AGRICULTURAL AND LEGISLA-
TIVE BILLS GO THROUGH. !.
Animated Discussion Regarding the
Rental Of the Busch and Other
Buildings in This City.

The Senate yesterday afternoon passed
both the agricultural and the legislative,
executive and judicial appropriation bills.
The amendment to the agricultural bill
suggested by Mr.. Hepburn of Idaho con-
templating supervision of interstate COM
merce 50 as to prevent the transfer of
plants or seeds fraudulently marked from
one state to another was ruled out on a
point of order.
The Busch Building.
Senator Bacon inquired about the renting
of the Busch building. formerly occupied by
the civil service commission. He had learn
ed, he said. that this was an inferior build
ing, and that 1t had been rented by the gov-
eminent in payment of a political debt. He
said he could forgive the payment of politi-
cal debts when ii was done without detri--
ment to the public service.
Mr.. Bacon declared the building was not
first rented for the government by the
present administration. but he was never
theless. certain that his informant has been
correct In saying that the building was very
inferior and that the rental was largely to
satisfy political obligation. Senator AL
lison said the charge was serious ore.
and he favored having it investigated.
When the item of $12,S00 for rent of
suitable buildings for the storage of post
office supplies and for the rural free de-
livery service was reached the Senate
agreed to reduce that item to $1,000.
The Busch building Is now used for some
of the offices Of the rural free delivery serv-
ice and this reduction was made so that an
Investigation of Mr.. Bacon's charges might
be made before the Senate and House con-
ferees finally arrange the differences In the
bill. Senator CullOm said the rent paid for
the Busch building was about 5000, as he
remembered it. Mr.. Bacon thought this rent
was altogether too high.
Rented for the Government.
Mr.. Hoar and Mr.. Fairbanks discussed the
question of public buildings in this city.
Mr.. Fairbanks regarded 1t as a little short
of outrageous that the government should
have such a large rent roll in the District.
The government was paying $4,000 annu-
ally for rented buildings here which repre-
sented a capitalization Of $15.000.0O0.
Mr.. Fairbanks told briefly how his COM
mittee on public buildings and grounds had
endeavored to secure more buildings here
adequate for the government service.
Mr.. Hoar spoke of the need of better ac-
cOmmodations for the Senate. Many sena-
tors. he said. were still obliged to go to
some building outside the Capitol for proper
office accommodations. He advocated the
construction of a Supreme Court building
on the square opposite the Library building
which would place at the disposal of the
Senate the room now occupied by the court.
as well as the rooms of the clerk and other
court officials. and also the space occupied
~ INV hSSofco Va Tic SO1it duu Oy Tile Id w
library.
Salaries Paid to Senators.
The salaries paid to senators was also
commented on by Mr.. Hoar. He asserted
that senators do not assert their dignity as
they ought-not personal dignity, but the
dignity of their Office.
He said federal judges were paid much
more than senators, although no one would
dispute that the office of senator was one
or much more power and dignity than that
of district or circuit judge. Mr.. Hoar said
the office of senator had increased i'm
mensely In Importance since the present
salary of 5000 year was fixed.
Later he called attention to the made
quate provisions for furnishing carriages to
committees of Congress that had to wait
upon the President to inform him officially
that Congress was in session.
Me- Bailey said that one-half of the SEN
ators were accommo da ted in a building that
by building. One would not be permitted
to conduct a tavern there but senators
were allowed to use it for offices.
The Use Of Carriages.
In the paragraph regarding the use of
carriages for public officials the Sena to
voted to retain the word personal" which
was adopted by the House and struck out
by the Senate committee. The language
now prohibits the payment by the govern
ment of expenses of carriages for the per-
sonal use of any public officials except the
Pres dent, his cabinet and the secretary to
the President.
On a point Of order made by Mr.. Nell
son. the committee amendment providing
that no bureau of the public service shall
be transferred from one executive depart
ment to another was ruled out as general
legislation.
The legislative, executive and judicial bill
was then passed as amended by the Senate
committee