Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-21
REPRESENTATIVES VIEWS
Purchase by the Government Would
Save Much Money.
BUILDING SITES ARE NEEDED
Strong Sentiment in Congress for
Erection of Public Structures
Along Thoroughfare's
South Side.

The sentiment among members Of the
House of Representatives in favor Of the
purchase of land along the south side of
avenue in order to provide
sites for public buildings Is daily becom-
ing more and more pronounced. This sem
timent is not one of recent origin. 1t has
existed in the House as in the Senate for
many years and is a well-defined policy
Of both Houses of Congress.
Representative J. Sloat Fassett at one
time the candidate of the republican party
for governor of New York, is heaftily in
sympathy with the plan for the heautif1-
cation of Pennsylvania avenue. When
abroad on more than one occasion he has
been an interested observer of municipal
and national improvements and regards
this city as worthy of the same generous
treatment that has been accorded Euro
pean capitals.
Mr.. Fassett's Views.
The possibilities of Pennsylvania avenue
as the grand boulevard between the Capt.
toll and the White House has always ap-
pealed to him as of great Importance, not
only from the viewpoint of one who
wishes to see realized plans for the ''city
proper facilities for the government in
the conduct of its business.
Il am heartily In favor" said Mr.. Fas-
sett today. ''of an elaborate and extern
sive system of parks; the doing away
with the buildings on the south side Of
Pennsylvania avenue. provided they can
be properly obtained, and the erecting
thereon of department buildings in ac-
cordance with a. consistent PLAN I feel
that Washington Is to be the great resi-
1T,
most beautiful capitals Of the world. It
Is bound to grow as the country grows,
and it would lead to extravaganza Lam
guage to try to picture what this country
is likely to be after the lapse of one or
two centuries. 1t seems to me as though
1t was in the line of far-sighted economy
to lay the foundations broad and firm for
a stately city. not manufacturing or
commercial city, but a residence city for
those who are interested in the life and
administration of the affairs OF the ma
ton
A Business Proposition.
Representative Weeks OF Massachusetts.
a man Of wide business experience, ap-
proves the extension Of the governments
holdings along Pennsylvania avenue as a
business proposition.
Il am In, favor of continuing what
seems to be an established policy" he
said today, Ito buy from time to time
blocks on the south side of Pennsylvania
avenue. running through to the Mall, and
erecting thereon suitable buildings in
whichOo carry on the governments bust
ness. I am informed that more than
$io0O0O year is now paid in rentals in
gradually-in fact. as rapidly as the rev.
enues will warrant-construct buildings
so that the government will be able to
provide facilities for conducting it's own
business in its own buildings"
Much Needed Improvement.
Representative Goldfogle of New York
is fully alive to the pressing needs of the
executive departments, for more buildings
in which to conduct business, and looks
upon the south side of the avenue as the
proper place for such structures. He
wants to see this plan carried out as soon
as possible.
II am In favor of improving and beau
tifying Pennsylvania avenue" said Mr.
Goldfogle today. Handsome and COM
modious government buildings for the use
of the several departments and the courts
ought to be erected along that avenue,
intersected with small parks and we'll
laid-out grounds.
The needs of the government demand
that there be such Improvement; the de-
partments and the courts require more
space than they have at present, and the
buildings should in spaciousness and
architectural design be thoroughly up-to-
date .,
Handsome as Washington is today, 1t
ought to be made still more beautiful and
attractive.
THE suggested improvement to put up
government and department buildings
along the line of the avenue intersected
with parks ought to have been effected
long ago. The sooner such work is begun
the better both for the city and the ma
tion.'' =. - - H: :