Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-09
ROOT SMA|DEN SPEECH
First Words in Senate for
Beautiful Washington.
NEW CENSUS BUILDING
Should Conform to General Plan for
Improving City.
FAvoRs INCREASING BOARD
Wants Building Commission to In.
clude Senate and House Committee
Chairmen to Increase Efficiency.

Senator Elihu Root of New York.
FORMER secretary of State. delivered
MS maiden speech i'm the Senate today.
Ii was an entirely impromptu affair.
and lasted but a few minutes. He spoke
In favor of the erection in Washington
or public buildings after a plan that
would insure the increasing beauty of
the city.
Inc matter was brought to the atten-
ton OF the Senate during the considera-
tlon OF the census bill. which contains a
provision appropriating $3.50. 600 to buy a
site ADJOINING the present census office.
just west of the Capitol. and $o5OO00 for
the erection of building thereon to house
employees of the census office during the
taking Of the next census
senator La Toilette. chairman of the
census committee. proposed an amend
ment which would give the Secretary of
the Treasury authority to spend $50, 600
for site and building wherever he saw
fit.
1t was suggested by Senator's Clapp
and Gallinger that SO much authority
should not be given to one man, and
that 1t would be well to create a board
building and site. to consist of the Sec
rotary OF the Treasury. the director OF
the census and the chairmen OF the COM
mittees on the census Of the Senate and
the House.
A Close Listener.
Senator Root. who had been listening
very closely to the debate on all Of the
sections of the BILL here took the floor.
He said the fact that the committee had
reported an amendment giving the Secre-
tary of the Treasury discretion to select
a site and erect a building was an indica-
ton that the committee had not found
time to determine the matter for itself.
He said there were several questions to
be considered In reaching decision, such
as whether the building should be of an
ornamental type or not and whether one
might be erected which might be turned
over later for different purpose.
Congress. believe. ought to consider
and pass upon these questions" continued
Mr.. Root But it is evident that the
committee has not found time to do 50.
!, therefore. believe that Congress ought
to leave them to a body which 1t can trust
and not delay this important measure.
favor the suggestion Of the senator from
New Hampshire (Mr. Gallinger). but
would add another official of the govern
ment to those he has suggested.
Beauty az Well as Comfort.
1.-The erection of a public building is
something more than a mere census ques-
ZION. We are spending a great deal of
money. and 1 believe properly. to make
Washington beautiful. 1t would be a pity
to consider nothing but the comfort Of
the clerks in erecting a census building.
We should consider the relation OF such
a building TO the general plan for in
creasing the beauty Of Washington. /
therefore suggest that the chairmen Of
the committees on the library of the Sem
ate and the House be added to the board
proposed. They have been accustomed
for years to consider questions of beauty
in connection with the erection of build
ings and monuments.
When Mr.. Root had finished. it was
suggested by Err. Clapp that the name
of the director of the census be dropped
in order to make an uneven number on
the board and prevent deadlock Mr..
Root agreed to this.
Civil Service Clause.
At a late hour this afternoon no vote
had been taken upon this part of the
bill. The section of the bill requiring
applicants for civil service examination
to take such examinations in the state and
territories in which they claim legal resi-
dence and to live for a year previous in
such state or territory had not been
reached.
The Senate committee amendments lop-
ping off the salaries of the director and
other officials of the census Office were
agreed to.