Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-20
Appropriation of So, 900, 900.


The committee on public buildings and
grounds have had under consideration COM
munications from the Secretary of State,
the Attorney General and the Secretary Of
Commerce and Labor, calling attention to
the urgent need for the erection of build
ings for the adequate accommodation OF
their respective departments, says Mr..
Wetmore in his report The accompanying
bill appropriates 100000 to pay for the
land and the erection of the buildings
a commission, to be composed of the
Secretary of State, the Secretary of the
Treasury the Attorney General, the Secre-
tary of Commerce and Labor and the SUI
perintendent of the Capitol building and
grounds, is created, and is directed to re-
port to Congress preliminary plans and an
estimate of cost for one or two buildings
to be erected on the site named for the
use of the Departments of State. Justice
and Commerce and Labor and for other
governmental purposes
The report by Senator Wetmore states:
In the location of a site your committee
have arrived at the conclusion that build
ings In the District of Columbia for the de-
partments of the government should occupy
a fun square, be set we'll back from the sur
rounding streets. classical in design, prefer
ably three and at most not exceeding four,
stories in height, including the basement
Two Departments in One Building.
I'VE believe 1t is wise to consolidate in
one building two or more departments
rather than to erect a building for each de-
partment. for the reason that as time goes
on these departments, with the ever growing
demands, will necessarily increase in size,
and when this increase reaches a point
making 1t necessary to provide more space
Il will be far easier and more economical
to move one department to new building
and to allow the remaining department or
a alT~Ny11 re 70 nd a n n
add to the small buildings. The effect of
the city of Washington a whole Will be
much more imposing If 1t is filled eventually
with structures of great Importance IN size
and scale than with a mass of smaller
buildings.
Pressing Need for the Buildings.
There is pressing need. IN our opinion.
for the erection of one or two buildings to
house the Departments of Justice, Com
merce and Labor and State. The first two
mentioned are now occupying twelve rented
buildings in different sections of Washing
ton and the Department of State is greatly
overcrowded in It's present quarters. hay
ing now actually less available space than
was intended when the south wing of the
State, War and Navy building, which 1t
occupies in part, was completed IN 1870
The removal of the State Department Will
also relieve the congestion in the War and
Navy departments by allowing them to ex-
paud to the extent OF the space vacated.
The Secretary of State and the Attorney
General have both urged upon the commit
tee as a consideration of the greatest i'm
portance that their departments should be
located as near as practicable to the ex-
ecutiYe Offices
Your committee therefore recommends as
q proper and adequate site for the Depart
ments of State Justice and Commerce and
Labor the purchase Of squares numbered
22a, 227, 22S. 229 and go, bounded by Penn
sylvania avenue. 18th street B street and
18th street northwest. and the assignment
to the purposes OF this site of the portions
OF c street Ohio avenue. d street and Z
street lying between the squares men
toned"