The Washington herald., 1907-12-02

The proposition TO convert the rotunda
of the Pension Bureau building into a
storage house for the keeping Of Patent
/ Oflice models that have accumulated for
many years promises to arouse no end Of
| opposition. These models, more than
| 10000 in all. are now in the Union Build
/ ing. occupying three floors.
The necessity Of preserving them is en-
phasized from time 10 time by the de-
mand for them as evidence in important
patent litigation
/ Secretary Garfield. with a view OF say
/ ing the rental for Uncle sam, is under
stood to have determined recently 10
/ have all these models moved 10 the TO-
/ tunda OF the Pension Bureau.
Naturally. the Pension Office officials
/ 90 not look with favor upon this idea.
/ and incoming Congressman To whose at
/ tention il has been brought are speaking
out in unqualified opposition In fact, the
/ right 70 use the Pension Building for
such a purpose is likely 10 be questioned
/ iE Congress early in the session.
Costs Would BE Large.
/
/ tcrest 10 Washington, because if the To-
/ tunda be so utilized no available place foI
/ the next inaugural ball will remain The
| cost of removing the models 20 and plac
ing them I'M the rotunda viii be very
large. and il would be quite out Of th'
question 10 think of removing them again
Go make place for the inaugural ball.
/ II is true that three years ago a pro
aounced sentiment developed against per
mittug the retunda 10 De used on In
augural occasions, but even the Statesmen
who dislike To see IL SO used are franl
/ enough 20 admit that II offers the only
/ practical solution. every four years, O,
| tho inaugural ball problem.
After the last inauguration citizens OF
! Washington undertook 10 raise a fund I,
erect an auditorium that would provid,
a hall large enough for an inaugura
ball Much enthusiasm was manifested
at the time. but only about 10000 wa,
subscribed-none paid in-and the inter
est iu the movement quickly died OUT
Investment Features.
There was no promise OF popular con
/ tributions sufficient 20 carry the projec
/ through. and those who looked into 81
closely realized that from an investment
point of view. the subscriber would 70
ceiyc a very small percentage upon th'
money he put into fl. IL any al all
Members Of the House who have bee.
apprised Of Secretary Garheld's intention
VIII take steps az once 10 induce him O
alter his plan. and. If il becomes neccs
sary. Congress probably VIII go 10 th'
extent of forbidding the use OF the TO
tunda for such purposes.
When the Patent Office Building becam
so congested with models that they coul,
no longer be kept there and leave space
| sufficient 10 carry on the work OF th
office it was suggested that the models
or many Of them al least. might he De
stroyed without any serious loss TO tE
/ government But storm OF protes
arose against this suggestion. The modei
tell the story Of the inventive growth o
the nation. and. as already stated. thel
are OF incalculahle value in settlin
points OF litigation.
Would spoil Appearance.
From an csthetic point OF view there
the strongest possible objections to tn
placing OF these models in the Pensio
Buralu rotunda. which is one OF the of
fcial show places Of Washington. Tn
collection would De an unsightly one a
best. and would also forever stop Ia
expansion OF the working space OF III
Office
/ The practical opinion expressed is tha
it would be much better for Uncle San
20 continue paving a reasonable renta
and have these models securely lodge
. and guarded i'm "a hreproof building tina
60 make the iU-advised move which tn
p. Secretary Of the Interior is now propos
ing.
Pension COMMISSIONS Warner said las
night that he had not been informed tina
the plan was 10 be carried out Il know
measurements were made. and some est
. mates received as 10 the cost Of Tn
work" said Mr.. Warner. Il can onI
say that if such a thing is done. it Ger
tainly viii not add TO the beauty OF IN
, building" Beyond this he would ad
nothing
LoudensIaEer Discusses IL.
/ Chairman LoudensIager. of the HoUs
p Committee on Pensions. said he had no
heard of the plan. Il would think, how
j ever" he said. that the Pension OfiC
2 Building should be the place only for IN
storing Of such papers and records a
5 pertain to the business of the otnce-
do not see why the Secretary should Wis
To put Patent Office models in the Per
! sion Office Building.
+ Assistant Pension Commissioner Daven
, port also said that he had not been in
) formed that decision had been made {
5 carry out the plan I don't know any
2 thing about it." said Mr. Davenport, 'bu
{ II IL is done. il will certainly detract fror
the appearance Of the rotUnda-"
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