Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-05
FOR LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS
Publicity Campaign to Be Method
of Procedure.
FAvoRs MERIDIAN HILL PARK
Supports Plan for Purchase Of South
Side of Pennsylvania Avenue.
His Attitude of Justification.

1t will not be the fault of Senator Scott
of West Virginia If the District is not vel
treated at the next session of Congress
with respect to the amount of money ap,
propriated for public buildings and parks
Incidentally, as chairman of the Senate
committee on public buildings and
grounds. Mr.. Scott has a good deal to say
about this particular class Of legislation.
Sitting in the lobby of the New Willard
this morning, and looking across Pennsyl-
vania avenue at the five-block site for
new buildings for the Departments OF
State. Justice and Commerce and Labor
for which he secured an appropriation OF
50 $4,000 at the last session, Senator Scott
told Star reporter that he had not the
slightest intention of letting up on his
campaign for more and better government
buildings In the District, and more and
larger public reservations in every part OF
the city.
Objects to Rented Buildings.
1T is beyond all question the thing fol
Congress to do he declared. while II
IS a little early to talk about what / am
going to try to accomplish at the next
session, still / may say that this matter
of the annual expenditure of thousands
of dollars for the rent of buildings in
which to house the government offices is
always on my mind.
II am also determined to make every
effort to secure more money for parks in
the District. / am especially anxious to
see Congress give the needed money for
the proposed Meridian Hill park on 18th
street northwest
1t is not Senator Scott's habit to talk
about what he is going to do or is doing.
He prefers to let results speak for him.
In this instance, however, he has become
on1 hot - ~~,SG
accomplish the end he seeks will be a
vigorous publicity campaign" He gave
evidence of this when he made a strong
plea for more money for public buildings
in the District in long speech last April
in the Senate.
II do not think anybody will ever regret
the expenditure of So 10000 for the five
squares across the way" he said this
morning. pointing to the south side of
hard and to practically hold up Chairman
Bartholdt of the House committee at the
point of gun. fguratively speaking. be-
fore l could get the conferees to accept
that item. / am glad l succeeded, and ]
believe it will not be SO hard next time"
Favors Hepburn Measure.
Mr.. Scott is one OF the many senators
who enthusiastically favor the plan of
Senator Hepburn Of Idaho to purchase
the entire south side Of Pennsylvania
avenue from the Capitol grounds to the
White Lot and south as far as the Mall
He spoke several times in favor OF the
measure before II was passed by the Sem
ate at the last session.
He believes, however, that the House
will continue to do as it did last winter
with regard to this bill. That is, 1t will
not agree to appropriating for this prop
erty in a lump sum, as Is contemplated
in the Hepburn bill.
The way this property will ultimately be
purchased by the government-and Mr..
Scott believes implicitly that 1t will be
ures as the one he got through for the
five-block site already mentioned. He
does not underestimate. however. the
splendid work of Mr.. Hepburn in keeping
the subject before the minds of members
of both Houses by his vigorous champion
ship of the south Of the avenue bill"
The way Senator Scott looks at this
proposition is expressed by him in this
wise:
1T is plain business proposition which
have brought to the attention of the
Senate. No business man in the United
States would hesitate one moment in a
rent proposition of per cent as opposed
to s. 10 or 20 per cent. Neither would
he hesitate on a proposition for proper
commodious and connected offices In
which to carry on his business.
Should the government act differently
Should Congress not see that the moneys
3f the federal government are carefully
and economically expended and that the
best results are obtained? Should we
hold 1t to be economy and carefulness
merely to refuse to make appropriations:
During the fiscal year ended June 80
1903. the government has spent for rent
of buildings in the District of Columbia
the sum of s415 .622.0S Each year this
rental has been increasing at an enor-
nous rate.
Il do not believe that the expenditure
of a single dollar for the city of Wash
ington in order to beautify the capital OF
the nation and erect its workshops has
ever been criticised by an American tax
payer or an American voter. l do not be-
leve that If Congress would pass bill
appropriating even $50 900 600 for the pur-
chase of sites and the erection of build
ings TO complete plans I'have frequently
detailed a dissenting voice would be
raised in the whole United States"