The Washington herald., 1908-05-24
FOR NEW BUILDINGS
Purchase of Avenue Prop
erty Agreed On.
NO NEW DISTRICT PARKS
Items for Their Purchase Stricken
from Public Buildings Bill as
trict Courthouse Addition. Is Re-
tained-Armory Plans 10 BE Drawn.

Inc hVe BLOCKS OF ground lying soutn-
east OF the Treasury Building beginning
at the southeast corner OF Pennsylvania
avenue and Fifteenth street, will be pur-
chased by the United States as a site for
a new home for the departments of State,
Justice. and Commerce and Labor. II the
House should accept the report Of the
.conferees on The omnibus public build
ings bill. an agreement upon which was
reached by the eonferees yesterday and
ratified by the Senate.
The bill originally contained no pro-
vision for this purpose, but the Senate
placed upon it an amendment appropriate
ing S2.500.0O0 for the erection on the site
OF building for the departments Of State
and Justice. the ground needed for the
building or buildings for the three de-
partments having been provided for in a
Senate amendment to the sundry civil
bill, carrying an appropriation of $4,000
Compromise Agreed On.
Il was found that both amendments
could not be put through. and the de-
cision was reached 10 eliminate the
amendment 10 the sundry civil bill pro-
viding for the purchase Of the ground
and to change the appropriation in the
public buildings bill from the building to
the ground. which was done. The amend
ment to the public buildings bill was re-
written to provide that the Secretary Of
the Treasury should acquire by purchase
or condemnation the FIVE blocks Of ground
desired, S25OO,OO0 being appropriated for
the purpose. The desired site extends
from Fourteenth 10 Fifteenth streets and
from Pennsylvania avenue 10 B street.
This is the elimination OF fight which
has been waged in the Senate by Senator
Scott for several sessions and upon which
he made a speech in the Senate at this
session. outlining a comprehensive plan
for the Improvement OF Washington and
the erection Of needed public buildings for
the government use. 1t is believed that
the House will agree.
District Parks Go Out.
The District Of Columbia will get no
new parks this year. despite the efforts OF
the Senate to make appropriations for
the purchase OF four new pleasure grounds
in separate sections OF the District.
The Senate amendments 20 the public
buildings bill for this purpose were thrown
out in conference. The parks proposed
we're the Meridian Hnl tract. on sixteenth
street northwest, the Graceland Cemetery
tract. the Carpenter tract iu the south
east, and the Montrose tract on George
town Heights The bill carried for this
purpose a total appropriation Of over
81 400 600.
The Senate amendment appropriating
5000 for the purchase Of lot OF ground
70 complete the park around the hlt:s-
ton plant. and TO conform the plot pur-
chased TO the present condition of the
park as now constituted, was retained by
the conferees.
Courthouse Addition Provided.
The amendment placed on the bill b.
the Senate appropriating $4,000 10 pro-
vide an addition to the District court
house. to be used by the District Court
Of Appeals. was agreed 10 by the House
conferees and retained in the bill The
Senate amendment striking out the ap-
preparation Of the tract known as Ar
mory Square as a ste for the proposed
new armory for the District National
Guard was agreed 10 by the House con-
Ierees but the remainder OF the section.
also stricken out by the Senate, which
provided for a commission 10 prepare
plans for the armory, and appropriated
s.. 500 for the expenses Of the commission.
was placed back In the bill. so that II
the House agrees to the report the
commission. 10 consist Of the Assistant
Secretary OF War, the general command
ing the District militia, and the superin-
tendent OF the Capitol buildings and
grounds. will 20 ahead with the work Of
preparing plans for the new armory The
provision for a new distributing post
Office near the Union Station. to cost $500
600, was not a subject Of dispute between
the two Houses and remains in the bill
The Senate amendment for the pur-
chase of an embassy in Paris. 70 cost
500. 900, was stricken from the bill, the
Senate conferees receding from the
amendment.
The bill as finally agreed upon carries
an appropriation OF about S30OOO.OOO