Evening star., 1908-01-14
Bill Providing for Site for De-
partment Building.
HEPBURN BILL GOES OVER
Senator Nelson Objects to Present
Consideration.
NO ONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION
Minnesota Senator Claims That It
Will Cost $50, 900 to Get
the Desired Land.

The Senate this afternoon passed a bill
appropriating s.. 900 900 for site on the
south side of Pennsylvania avenue. east
of the grounds of the White House. for
building for the departments of State,
Justice and Commerce and La Dor.
The Hepburn bill, appropriatins SlO,-
100000 for the purchase of the land lying
between Pennsylvania avenue and the
Mall, from the Capitol grounds to 10th
street northwest, for the use of the gov
ernment in the erection of public build
ings. was reached on the calendar in the
regular course of business in the Senate
this afternoon. and but for an objection
by Senator Nelson of Minnesota would
have been passed at once. AS it Is. the
vote was postponed. No objection to the
measure was made by any senator except
Nelson.
The Hepburn bill is No. s on the calen-
dar After it had been read by the sec
retary Senator Whyte of Maryland asked
If there was committee report on the
bill. and when informed by Senator Hey
burn that there was, he asked that the re-
port be read. which was done.
Il would call the attention of the SEN
ate said Senator Hepburn. following
the reading of the report. ito the fact that
the lily IouSI6SS COASldcltd tliiS
bill and that it was passed by the Senate:
also that it was adopted as an amendment
to the sundry civil bill
Without attempting to elaborate upon
the plan Mr. Hepburn directed the atten-
ton of the senators to the report on the
bill and the accompanying diagram.
Senator Tillman Makes Inquiries.
Senator Tillman of South Carolina
arose at this juncture. and said he had
not had an opportunity to examine the
bill. but that he wanted to ask a few
questions concerning it. He asked Mr..
Hepburn whether the bill provided for
an appropriation OF s10.Oooooo.
Senator Hepburn replied that that is
the maximum amount
Mr.. Tillman then wanted to know what
was the plan for acquiring the property,
and he was informed by Mr.. Hepburn
that it was by contract or condemnation
in the usual manner.
What becomes of the old Pennsylvania
depot?" demanded Mr.. Tillman.
That already belongs to the govern
ment," replied Mr.. Hepburn.
Mr.. Tillman said he thought the rail-
road might try to hold on to it, anyhow
and smile spread over the features of
the senator's who were listening to the
dialogue.
The railroad would have no right to do
any such thing, said MIR. Hepburn. in
that in his opinion the Senate would find
no great obstacle in acquiring this land.
Site for the Grant Statue.
Il see some mention in the papers,"
said Mr.. Tillman, "of the Botanic Gar
den being removed or some of the trees
being cut down, and of a purpose to
put up a statue of Gen. Grant there. I
myself have too much respect and ad-
miration for Gen. Grant to have a
statue of him stuck in that hollow. He
the Capitol. on the biggest. highest
place in Washington, instead Of put
ting the statue down there
The ground upon which it Is proposed
to erect that statue" replied Mr.. Hey
burn, lis not involved in the considera-
tion of this measure
II understand that said Mr. Tillman
but ! brought that up incidentally, as
this seems to involve a grand scheme of
the capitals Identification, and I thought
I would mention, incidentally. my own in
dividual views in regard to sticking a
statue of Gen. Grant down there"
Mr.. Hepburn replied: II would suggest
20 the Senate that the place selected for
the erection Of that statue lies entirely
back of any possible building line upon
which buildings might be constructed
AT one time and another" dec.ared Mr..
Tillman, I have seen hanging about the
a great scheme of capital improvement
and Identification. involving big bridge
from some avenue to Arlington. Is this
part OF that program?'
NO" replied Mr.. Hepburn. this is no
part OF that program. That program was
not taken into consideration with this
legislation at any time. The sole purpose
OF TINS measure Is TO secure the ground :;
the matter of its use will be determined
later-that is to say. its use as to build
ings, the character or numbers, or the use
OF the buildings themselves
Mr.. Tillman wanted to know whether
the government was properly safe
guarded by the bill, and when he was
told by Mr.. Hepburn not to worry on this
was always in favor Of beautifying Wash
ington.
Senator Nelson Objects.
Senator Nelson next took up the discus
sion, saying that he was not infatuated
with the idea contained in the bill He
said that If senators would examine old
plots of the city they would discover that
all of this ground which is now the Mall,
or what Is supposed to make into the
Mall, was once swamp. 1t would be a
very unfortunate place. he said, to put
long row of public buildings. He held
that no one would ever know how much
1t cost 10 get a foundation "for that post
Office building down there
Mr.. Nelson voiced the opinion that the
property between Pennsylvania avenue
and the Mall will decrease in value. in
stead of increase, on account of the fact
that the line Of development is toward the
northwestern part of the city on the high
ground of the city. He said he agreed
rflay Ix. o. fro h