Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-01
AVENUE SITE FAVORED
Senators Discuss the Proposed
Department Building.
WHITE HOUSE OFFICES
MORE CRITICISM AND DEFENSE
OF THE ARCHITECTS
Attempt to Fix the Day for Vote
Fails Mr. Fairbanks Will
Try Again Friday.
WHITE HOUSE OFFICES

The discussion of the merits of the work
chitects generally was continued in the
Senate yesterday afternoon until after ) 30
o'clock. AT that hour the consideration of
the bill to provide site and for the erec-
ton on it of a building for the State JUS
tice and Commerce and Labor depart
ments, under which the debate had been
carried on. had not been completed.
The Presidents Offices.
Continuing his remarks after The Stars
report of the proceedings was closed, Mr..
Newlands said that the architect had to
decide whether to preserve the original
character of the White House or to alter
the character of that building.
Mr.. Hale expressed the opinion that if
the Senate committee had not guarded the
designs of the old building the White
House would have been stripped. disman-
tied. changed, perverted and practically de-
StrOyed.
Mr. NewIands defended Mr.. McKim, the
architect. stating that he stood high in the
estimati ton of the American Institute of
Architects. and that he had been decorated
by King Edward. He went on to say that
the executive office building had cost only
$4,000, but he was promptly taken up by
Senator Foraker, who said he understood
that building cost the government $4,000.
Other senators corroborated Mr.. Foraker s
sta tement
Senator Quarles member of the Senate
committee on public buildings and grounds.
said that owners of land had always put
such excessive prices on sites desired by
the government that condemnation pro-
ceedingS were necessary.
ALI Ground Needed for Years.
Il would have a thorough investigation Of
the whole triangle south of Pennsylvania
avenue" said Mr.. Hale. IF we can ac-
quire that. we shall have ground enough to
accommodate all the public buildings We
need for thirty years.
Mr. QuarIes said the committee had nego-
tiated with owners south of the avenue.
The figures of the proposed cost were now
in the committee ROOM These figures were
excessive In every case. lie dwelt upon
Mr. Hales objection to the occupation OF
square 167. Immediately west of Lafayette
Square. declaring that there must be some
fatal fascination around that square. Mr..
Quarles said that delay In the passage of
the bill now meant delay for a couple of
years.
In the present Depa rtment of State" he
added, the Secretary has no kind of ret!r-
ing room, apart from his main office. II
two diplomats call at the same time one #
them must wait outside till the other has
concluded his consultation. Senators who
find the Secretary occupied must pace the
corridor till he can see them.
MI. FalfDankS Appeal.
Mr.. Fairbanks appealed to senators to
deal with the needs of the government in a
progressive way. He cited the long time
taken to construct various public buildings
in Washington after the agitation for their
construction had begun. The extension Of
the treasury building had occupied four
teen years from the time it was first pro-
posed till the work actually In hand ,
the Congressional Library had taken eleven
years; the State, War and Navy building
seventeen years. 1t had been twenty-five
years since The agitation of a hall of re-
ords began. and yet only the purchase OF
the site had thus far been authorized. The
appropriation for the building remained to
be made by Congress.
Mr.. Fairbanks declared that valuable rec
ords were exposed TO fire in the Department
of Justice and in the Treasury Department
the destruction of which would mean a
greater loss 20 the government many times
over than the cost of the proposed building
He spoke also for placing the building on
square 167, as department houses were
crowding down that way.
Before long" he said, we shall see that
square occupied by apartment buildings,
stores and shops that will be a standing
Disgrace.
Building for Senator's Office.
Mr.. Bailey called attention to the needs
of an office building for the use of senator's.
saying that the Senate annex was so unsafe
that senators were not allowed to carry
books to their rooms in that building. He
Il ought safe building for senators the
most urgent building need of the govern
ment. and said it was an outrage that no
better provision was made for them. He
said he had no doubt that if an explosion
should occur within 200 yards of the Maltby
building it would crumble to dust. Mr..
Bailey declared that If the older senators.
who seemed to have more influence In get
ting appropriations. had to take offices in
the MaItby building there would have been
better provision long ago.
The matter of an annex building. Mr..
Fairbanks said was under consideration by
the committee.