Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-16
MUNICIPAL BUILDING
Subject Of Discussion in the
Senate.
OPPOSED TO INCREASE
ELKINs AND HOPKINS
THE TWO DIRECTORS.
Debate Carried Until the Time Arrived
for the Swayne Impeach-
ment Case.
OPPOSED TO INCREASE

The District of Columbia appropriation
bill again came before the Senate at 12:45
o'clock today. and was under consideration
| for an hour and quarter. when 1t was dis
! placed by the Swayne impeachment pro-
| .ceedings. which were resumed at o'clock.
| The time was taken UP by completing The
reading Of the bill and by speeches by
Senators Hopkins and Elkins against the
| increase of the limit of cost of the munich
pal building from 81 .O0OO 900 to 81 100000.
| separate vote was demanded on this
amendment put in the bill by the commit
| tee. and Mr.. Elkins demanded a separate
| vote on the committee amendment for the
construction of a bridge across Piney
branch on the line of 10th street extended.
Senator Hopkins had made a point of
| order against the increase in the limit of
cost in the municipal building. but Senator
Allison stated that the increase had been
estimated for, that the amendment had
| been considered and favorably reported
| from the Senate committee on public build
| ings and grounds, in addition to having
| been considered and favorably acted upon
! by the appropriations committee. and Sen
| ator Frye. who was in. the chair. promptly
| ruled that the point of order would not lie
| against it.
| When this ruling was announced Senator
| Hopkins appeared to have abandoned his
| opposition. but Senator Elkins came in de-
| handing that he be allowed to speak on
| that amendment. Every other portion of
| the bill except that in relation to the mu-
| nicipal building and the Piney branch
| bridge was favorably acted upon by the
committee of the whole and reported to
| the Senate.
Against Extravagance.
| Then Senator Elkins secured the floor
| and discussed at some length the proposed
| amendment, and charged the Senate with
| great extravaganza, announcing that he
| wanted a separate vote by the Senate on
the Piney branch bridge as we'll as on the
| municipal building.
He said that yesterday the chairman of
the appropriations committee had suggested
that the appropriation for Piney branch
| bridge was too small to begin on in the
campaign for cutting down government ex-
| penSes. Senator ElkinS said he hoped that
| this half million extra for the municipal
building would be big enough to secure the
interest of the Senate. He said that the
| House had considered this amendment and
| refused to increase the limit of cost. He
| said that there was already enough money
| provided for to give a substantial building,
| but 1t was not as ornamental as some sena-
tors wanted it.
| Il would not favor the building of this
| expensive ornamental building at a time
| when we are piling UP debt against the
United States" declared Senator Elkins
He said he wanted modern capital, ana
| wanted to be as generous possible with
| the peoples money. AID should not be
| charged with being against the capital city
| because of the course he was taking. He
declared that his views represented those of
| 80 or 80 per cent of the people. He said
| that there were great sections Of the city
neglected, and that the northeast section
| ought to be beautified as well as the north
west But he would not appropriate money
| when the government is running into debt
| merely to be used for ornamental purposes
q m RI md
! time not to do them," he said when
we are financially able to do these things
I then let us do them. 1t does not mean
that senator Is opposed to the District
when he says We better wait a while.
| Where is this reduction of expenses to be-
gin il not here?'
Would Cut Out Two Other Bridges.
If he had had his way he said, he would
cut out the Connecticut Avenue bridge the
| Anacostia river bridge and many other
/ items.
| 1.-THE House of Representatives refused
to increase the cost of this building" he
continued. land they are nearer to the
| people than we are"
| Senator Allison suggested that the appro-
| priation for the Connecticut avenue bridge
| had been made in view of the continuous
| contract that had been provided for a
! couple of years ago. He said the senator
| from West Virginia was familiar with the
! making of continuous contracts in rela ton
to river and harbor improvements.
| ''Will the senator be in favor of having
| receiver appointed for the government for
| an extension of time on these river and
| harbor improvements" asked Senator ALI
| san.
MI. Hopkins on Municipal Building.
Senator Hopkins said that originally a
million and a. half was supposed to be suf
! ficient to construct this municipal build
| ing, then the amount was increased to
! two million. Now the Commissioners come
| back for another half million. He thought
| two millions would have been sufficient if
| the Commissioners had the architects of the
| treasury to draw the plans
| Senator Gallinger suggested to Mr.. Hop
| kins that under the present system the
| architect of the treasury does not draw
| plans but that plans are drawn by outside
| architects.
| Senator McComas wanted to know
| whether the senator from Illinois (Mr Hop
! kins) objected to the plan for securing a
| proper municipal building on a proper site
| He wanted to know whether he favored the
| building of brick building on Pennsylva-
mia avenue for the use of the government
| Mr. Hopkins insisted that two millions
| would have been enough If the Commits
| sioners had exercised proper care
! with what kind of material-brick or
| grantee" asked Mr.. McComas
| Mr.. Hopkins replied that 1t would have
been enough with either material. Mr..
| C>alIinger said that it would not do to
blame the Commissioners for anything in
| connection with the manner in which they
| had secured plans they had compiled
with the law in that respect.
Mr.. Elkins Again.
Mr.. Elkins then resumed his discussion of
| the bill and read from the report of the
| hearing before the House appropriations
| committee the testimony of Commissioner
| Biddle to the effect that there Is now
available $4,000. In addition to that $780,
600 had been appropriated by the House, so
Mr. Elkins couldn't see why the Senate
committee wanted to add another half a
million. He didn't believe it could be spent
| this year.
| Senator Clay asked Mr.. Elkins whether
| 4 was not a fact that the additional $780,
| 600 was not appropriated for the purpose
| of spending 1t this year. but that 1t was
| merely an increase of the limit of cost in
| order that the municipal building might
| be built of granite or marble instead of
! brick.
| Mr. Elkins then resumed his general dis
cussion about extravagances of the Sem
| ate. declaring that the appropriation for