The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-24
Appropriation of So, 100000
Authorized for Pur-
chase of Site.
FIVE ITEMS ADDED
FOR PUBLIC PARKS
Commission Is Named TO Plan
Building for District Militia
ArmOTy.

At last, the Government is in sight OF
q new building for the Departments OF
state, Justice, and Commerce and La
Dor. After a prolonged fight, the con-
ferees on the public buildings Dill nave
agreed TO a provision authorizing the
appropriation OF S2.5O0.O00 for site Tor
the proposed building.
The site proposed is the one corneTing
on Fifteenth street and Pennsylvania
avenue. which has long been under con-
sideration for this purpose. The Senate
adopted the report of the conferees
shortly before 9 o'clock last evening.
Money for Structure Not Allowed.
The bill as ii passed the Senate con-
tanned a provision authorizing the eN-
penditure of $2.5O0.000 for building Tor
the departments in question. The sundry
civil bill contained a provision for the
purchase OF the site. The conferees on
the sundry civil bill, however, elimi-
mated the provision for purchase OF the
site and the public building conferees
took up with the site provision and sub
stltuted it for the provision for build
ing. While this means that no authori-
cation for a building Will be made by
this Congress. the fact that q purchase
Of q site is authorized means that the
time is close at hand for new build
ing for these three departments.
When the bill was passed by the SEN
ate Eve items were added for parks.
The total authorization for these
amounted TO over 81. cocoa The park
items were stricken out in conference
with the exception of the one providing
for an addition TO the reservation for
the filtration plant. The sum OF $500
is allowed for this purpose.
Court Building Provided For.
Another item in controversy and of
much Importance 20 the District, was
the one providing for the erection of a
fre-proof addition TO the court house
for the use of the Court of Appeals.
This was left in the bill by the con-
ferees. The appropriation authorized is
100000
The amendment for the purchase of
an armory site was not restored but an
appropriation of $3.50 is made for a
commission consisting OF the Assistant
Secretary of War. the general of the
District Militia. and the superintendent
OF the Capitol building and grounds TO
prepare plans for an armory in the Dis
trict.
Such other District items as were con-
tanned in the bill were not in contro-
versy.
According TO the report of the con-
ferees. submitted to the Senate by Sena-
tor Scott. chairman Of public buildings
and grounds, the House yielded on los
items and the Senate on g.
Total Appropriation s3O,OOo,OOO.
Despite the hard fight made by Sena-
tor Lodge for the purchase OF an en-
bassy building in Paris the item allow
ing $40. 600 for this purpose was stricken
from the bill.
The bill as it came from conference
and was agreed TO by the Senate, car
ried a total Of about $4,000, COO or about
100000 more than it carried in the
House. and about 81, O0o.00O less than il
carried when first passed by tie Senate
For trading purposes, the Senate COM
rnittee struck out some OF the provisions
in the bill that were especially dear 10
Speaker Cannon, Representative Taw-
ney, and some Of the members Of the
House Public Buildings and Grounds
Committee. One of these was for Dan
vile, the home of the Speaker. These
ftaros were restored ia conference