The daily sentinel., 1914-05-11
FATE OF FEDERAL BLDG
IN HAhOS OF NJ 'AOOO
NContlnued from Page ID

A(RANAAAfu AAOAu axe l.
tary OF the treasury would approve it.
l therefore introduced that bill on
the 27th ult. increasing the approp-
ration for your public building from
100000 to $3.50, 900, copy of
which I am enclosing you herewith.
then took the matter up with the
secretary Of the treasury and Asst.
Treasurer, Mr.. Newton. and the sup
.ervising architect, and very earnestly
and forcibly presented our claims to
them. They practically agreed to al
low me $4,000; but | insisted that
that is not enough. In fact, after
two or three conferences | told them
yesterday that l either wanted a hun
dred g. usand or nothing That is,
that | would rather wait until l could
set that much. as the city and peo-
pie of Grand Junction were entitled
to two-hundred-thousa dollar
building; and il we waited until the
next general omnibus public build
ings and grounds bill was passed that
we would get that much, and that
the city had better wait year or
even three years. rather than accept
the fifty thousand dollar increase.
The assistant secretary, Mr.. New
ton, who has charge of all public
buildings, and the supervising archi-
tect, both agreed with me. But Sec
retary McAdoo is trying to economize
and save the treasury as much as pos
sible. He says that the increases
now asked for on buildings already
authorized and appropriated for call
for more than twelve million dollars,
and that there are 65 buildings in the
same condition as Grand Junction,
some of them in the course of con-
struction and in more urgent need:
and that there are $50 buildings now
authorized and not yet completed. In
fact. / know three-fourths of them
are not yet started, and that the gov
ernment is at least four or five years
behind. and he insists upon cutting
down and economizing. He cannot
understand why it costs so much
money to putsup a building at Grand
Junction. 1t seems the foundation
there is exceptionally expensive, and
then of course our wanting marble
makes it considerably more expen-
sive. But 1t does seem to me that
il there is any place in the United
States that ought to have a marble
building, 1t is Grand Junction; es-
pecially when 1t is so near the mar
ble quarries and down-hill haul all
the way on the railroads.
Possibly | should say that Mr.. Nc
Adoo was preparing for his wedding
to the presidents daughter, which
occurs today. But made an appoint
ment to see him. with Mr.. Newton.
after he gets back from his wedding
trip, and am in hopes that after his
honeymoon he will be in better humor
and that I will be able to get the
hundred thousand dollars. IL ! can
get his approval. / am reasonably
confident that | can obtain the ap-
proval of the public buildings and
grounds committee of my bill, and
get it favorably reported by them
and put on the calendar of the house
within the next three weeks. OF
course that does not pass the bill.
But If / ever get that far, Grand
Junction will get the money. If |
cannot get McAdoo's approval. / am
afraid we are going to be blocked for
some time TO come. | have spoken
to Senator Shafroth and am going to
ask Senator Thomas to go with me
and see IL we cannot make con-
oerted appeal that he will recognize.
If he grants me even SIS, 900 | think
will accept it, and take chance on
Shafroth and Thomas being able to
add something in the senate. But I
do not believe we would be justified
in going ahead with $4,000. when
we may not get any more in the
senate.
wish you would consult with a
few of the business men and advise
me as to what their judgment is in
the matter.
With my best wishes for your sue
cess in the postoffice. / remain,
Yours very cordially.