Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-16
CHANGE IN THE PLANS
Or Reduction in Bids Must
Be Made.
REACH NO CONCLUSION
MEETING OF MUNICIPAL BUILD
ING COMMISSION.
Effort to Decide Upon Stone for Struc-
ture-Question of Avail
able Money.
REACH NO CONCLUSION

No conclusion was reached on the queS-
ton of stone for the new municipal build
ing by the building commission at its ses-
sion the site today. There were present
Secretary Shaw. Commissioners Macfar-
land, West and Biddle; Mr.. Jamison of the
firm of Cope & Stewardson, architects of
the building. and Capt Harding. supervisor
of construction. Representatives of the va
rious bidders were heard. 1t was learned
that reductions will have to be made in the
bids, or changes in the plan of construction
but just what will be decided upon will be
determined at later meeting.
The meeting was scheduled for II o'clock,
but did not begin until 11:30 Messrs. Bick-
ford and Carman represented the white
granite interests and Mr.. Williams the Do
yer marble. The Cherokee marble was rep
resented by Mr.. Duer.
These Representatives stated that changes
might be made in their bids or in their
prices, If the bids should be rejected, so as
to endeavor to bring the cost of the stone
within the probable amount of money that
would be available for the stone.
Discussion of this question occupied all of
the time until l o'clock. Meanwhile Secre-
tary Shaw had to leave to keep an appoint
ment in Baltimore. 1t was decided, in view
of this fact, to adjourn the meeting and call
another in the near future.
AS this second meeting, it was stated by
Commissioner Macfarland today, the next
move will be considered in view of the
statements and facts as to the amount of
money available for the stone. This amount
is not known exactly, not having been def
initely determined, but in the discussion
To-Day the estimate taken as approximately
correct was s650,0C0 This amount was what
was figured on
All the bids have been higher than $780,
oUo, and the question at todays meeting
was how to make such notifications in the
plans as would bring the price within the
specified amount.
considerable time was also occupied in a
discussion of the merits of the different
stones, each representative of a firm advo-
cat1ng strongly his particular variety
Nothing was dvulged as to the expressed
opinions of the members of the building
commission on this question 1t is not
Known whether they entered, very earnestly
into this part of the problem being more
interested in the fact that all of the bids
were above the mark.
Statues as Monuments.
Commissioner Macfarland said to Star
reporter a short time before the meeting
this morning that it was possible some
change in the exterior ornamentation of the
building might be agreed upon on account
of the advanced price of stone, but that
no change in the essentials of construction
would be made
According to the exterior plans for the
| new District building, provision is made
for twenty-eight statues or ornamental
| figures. to be placed at various intervals
| on the building. These statues it is esti-
mated, will cost between $1,000 and So, 600
each, and at least one of the bidders has
proposed, so it is understood, that if the
ornamentation is eliminated the commits
! sion will have more money to expend for
| stone for the structure.
The commission several months ago un-
officially expressed a preference for the
Bethel white granite, but the price sub
mitted by the white granite company was
mission. Later the commission estimated
! that it would have S1500o0 to spend for
| the stone alone and the white granite COM
| pany submitted a proposition, making
| notifications in the plans, to furnish white
| granite for the superstructure at S750000
| In a letter to Congress shortly before the
close of the session the commission de-
| cared it would have only $650,0G0 to spend
| for the stone for the building. TINS esu-
| mate thus far has not been lowered, and it
! is presumed that the commission Will be
| willing to spend something like $650,00o for
stone.
1t is pointed out that by eliminating the
| statues or ornamental figures on the build
| ing that something like 100000 would be
! saved for the purchase of stone for the
| structure, but it is not known what the
desire of the commission will be with ref
| erence to that proposition. 1t is thought
however. that they are not favorable to the
| elimination of the statues There are ru-
| mors to the effect that members of Con-
! gress who are considered as innuential fac
| tors in District legislation are opposed tC
| the expenditure of money for statues, anC
| prefer that the commission spend the money
| required for exterior ornamentation fol
| the purchase of a better stone for the
| whole structure.