The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-30
SENATORS DISCUSS NEW
EXECUTIVE BUILDING
MessrS. Fairbanks and Others
Favor Erection of a New
Structure.
NO ACTION IS TAKEN

WASHINGTON. March 29.-The bill au-
thorizing the erection of an additional eX-
ecutive department building in Washing
ton to-day was given the subject of spirited
debate in the Senate, and after several
hours debate it remained Enacted on. Sen
ators divided largely on the question of
location, but there also was talk as TO the
necessity of better office accommodations
for the Senate and the Supreme Court
Mr.. Fairbanks said that the government
is now paying an aggregate rental in the
District OF Columbia of $316,24
Mr.. Spooner contended that attention first
should be given TO providing proper accom-
modations for senators. The Senate annex
or Maltby building. which is occupied by
senator's as an office building he termed
disgrace to the country" He advocated
the completion of the Capitol according to
the original plans and the erection of a
building for the Supreme Court whose
members, he said, are paying for office
quarters out of their own purses Mr.
Allison said that the proposed addition
would give sixty-six more rooms. and in
the past there had been some assurances
that the House would surrender some of the
rooms III the south end of the building so as
TO give sufficient number of rooms for all
senators. Replying to Mr.. Newlands, he
declined to express an opinion as to wheth-
er there would be sufficient accommodation
for senator's from many new States II
think, he said, that we might take care
of senators from one or two more States
but l should not want to enter upon the
question as TO whether we are to have two
four States or to whether the outly-
ing possessions are to be admitted to state
hood"
Mr.. Teller thought the proposed depart
ment building would be none too large for
the Department of Commerce and Labor
hot
the department its scope is limited only
by the appropriations given it. In view of
the probable demands of the future he
suggested the wisdom of a building COM
mission TO have charge Of the entire mat
ter.
Mr.. Teller declared the pension building
should be torn down because of it's char
acter. He thought the government should
buy all the property south of Pennsylvania
avenue, west of the Capitol, and locate all
future public buildings on that ground.
ground that it is not wise to put more
than one executive department in one
edifice.
MIR Proctor opposed grouping public
buildings about the White House. eff the
plan of grouping proposed should be car
ried OUT he said, I'VE will have the
Capitol city arranged in two groups with
long poor section between; | fear he
added, that If the tendency is fostered we
shall be tipped up by the White House
end"
mo fear of that responded Mr.. Fair
banks promptly, so long as the senator
from Vermont is in the Capitol"
Mr.. German advocated the Pennsylvania
avenue site on the score of economy.
During the day there was renewed effort
to pass the bill prohibiting the misbranding
of salmon, but owing to the opposition of
senators who hold that the bill is calculated
TO interfere with the rights of individual
States under the guiSe of an effort to con-
troll Interstate commerce a vote was not
reached.