Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-13
Senate Will Investigate Demo-
|ition of Depot.
"BY ORDER OF PRESIDENT"
Col. Bromwell Races Sixth Street
Station and Tells Reason.
MATTER REGARDED AS SERIOUS
Action of Executive Without Law or
Other Legislative Warrant-Sub-
ject for Criticism.

1t is the determination of the Senate to
have thorough investigation of the tear
ing down OF the old Pennsylvania railroad
station at 9Th and B streets northwest.
Strong pressure is being exerted on Sen
ator Scott, chairman of the Senate com
mittee on public buildings and grounds to
have that committee report resolution
of investigation. The West Virginia SEN
ator. 1t is said. has held down resolution
of the kind owing to the talked-of differ
ences between himself and the President
and from a desire not to appear to be
personally unfriendly to the President. In
spite of this attitude, however. it is the
intention of the Senate, democrats and re-
publicans alike, to have such an investi-
CATION, and If Senator Scott's committee
does not bring in a resolution one will be
introduced in the open Senate and its pas
sage attempted there.
Opinion of Senator's.
number of senators have privately
expressed the opinion that the action of
the President in ordering the tearing
down of the building without act of
Congress or other legislative warrant. is
probably the most serious charge against
him among the many now being pre-
ferred.
The point is made that the government
is paying many thousands of dollars a
year for rent of buildings in this city and
that the old station could at least have
been used for storage purposes.
The resolution to be passed by the Sem
ate will probably be aimed directly at
Col. Bromwell, in charge Of public build
ings and grounds, under whose direction
the building was destroyed. but its object
will be to bring out the fact that he re-
ceived positive orders from the President
to do so. Col. Bromwell so testified at
a recent meeting of a House committee.
Presidents Reported Reason.
1t is understood that the President $
reason in giving the order was that the
old station building would have proved
an eyesore. and if it were razed Congress
would erect modern and handsome pub
lie building in it's place.
Col. Bromwell December IL appeared be-
fore the House committee on appropria-
tions, which was considering the legsia-
tive appropriation bill. During the hear
ing Representative Burleson opened up
The Pennsylvania station question by ask
ing innocently II Col .Bromwell had not
asked for an appropriation in the last leg
islative bill for watchman ut the rail-
road station. Col. Bromwell said he had
made such request, but added that he
had not used the watchman because he
had torn the building down
With this confession as starter, the
committee proceeded to go into the ques-
ton Of tearing down the station.
Col. Bromwell Explains.
Col. Bromwell. in answer to various
questions. said that he had torn the sta
ton down by direct order Of the Presi-
dent and that he had given the material
TO the contractors who did the razing.
Asked IL the Government owned the
building, the army officer said the rail-
road built 1T, but had turned it over to
the government on removal to the new
Union station.
When asked If he knew of any law on
the statute books that authorizes an
executive officer to sell property of the
United States, Col. Brh1nwell replied
in the negative. He said ne called to the
attention of higher authorities the fact
that no such law existed. but received
an order TO tear the building down.
Col. Bromwell gave no definite answer to
the question as to whether the building
might have been used as a storage house
in place of buildings rented by the gov
ernment for such purpose. He said ii
might or might not have been SO used.