Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-29
ITS FIRST MEETING
Senatorial 0noe Building
Commission in Session.
HAS WIDE DISCRETION
SITE TO BE Acquired By PUR-
CHASE OR CONTAMINATION.
Structure Will Be In Harmony With
the Office Building for Rep
resentativea
HAS WIDE DISCRETION

Senators Cullom, Gailinger and Cockrell,
the commission created to acquire site
and to recommend plans for an Office build
ing for the Senate, held It's first meeting at
the Capitol today in Senator Cullom's room.
The provision of the sundry civil bill au-
thorizing the construction of this building
provides that it shall be erected on The
square north Of the Capitol grounds bound
ed by B. 1st and C streets and Delaware
avenue for which s7508p0 is appropriated
The cost of the building is limited to
2,25O. GOO.
The commission is given very broad au-
thority, as 1t is provided that the 'build-
ing shall be construetedsi In accordance with
architectural plans to be secured by the
commission in such a way as they may
deem advisable"
The construction of the building is to be
under the control of the superintendent of
the Capitol building and grounds, subject
to the direction of the Commission.
The commission may acquire the site by
purchase or condemnation proceedings
Office Buildings to Harmonize.
Senator Cullonl, when seen by Star re-
porter today said the commission would
doubtless seek to secure a building to be
| In harmony with the Office building of the
House. 1t would not be so large as the
House building SO that the square of
ground which forms sits site will allow a
tasteful setting for the,strueture
The commission will seek to have at least
two rooms for each senator when this Office
building is completed, and may decide to
provide for an audience room similar to
the floor of the House building for use
of committees holding bearings. Commit
tee rooms are inadequate for such gather
N INN for
discussion. :
The commission remainea In session until
after o'clock.
The Conferences.
During the first hour Of the meeting Sem
ators Allison and Hale were present and
took part in the discussion as to the nature
OF accommodations that should be pro-
vided in the office building. After they left
MIR. Elliott Woods. superintendent of the
Capitol building and gro.j,fds was called In
and the plans were discussed with him.
Members of the commission expressed a
preference for obtaining plans for the Office
building in the game manner that plans
have been procured for the Office building
for the House of Representatives. Under
that general plan Mr.. Elliott Woods has had
charge of the entire matter, calling in such
expert assistance, both architectural and
otherwise, as he has deemed necessary.
The commission to get plans for the SEN
ate building will directly pass upon the
work of designing the building as the COM
mission of representatives have passed
upon the House building.
No Details Of Plans Adopted.
No details of the plans were decided upon.
1t Is likely that another meeting will be
held tomorrow. as enator Cullom is de-
sirous to have the work OF acquiring the
land and the beginning of the plans deter
mined In a general way before he leaves
the city at the end of next week. He will
return again in three or four weeks. when
other meetings will be held In order that
the commission may keep in touch with the
progress of the work.
Ownership Of Property.
It has been discovered that the ground
on which the building is to be located Is
owned by about forty individuals, and the
first step taken will be. In the direction of
securing the property 1t is the intention
of the commission to proceed as quickly
as possible, all the MEMBERS realize the
anxiety Of senators to secure better quar-
ters than some of them now have.