The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-05-17

may be. Lights of some kind are nee
essary, and his recommendations
| based
| Mr.. Foster. You mean outside Of
the building? We are providing lights
! outside and not inside the building.
Mr.. Wilson of Florida. On the gov
| eminent property.
| Mr.. Foster. These lights are on the
| street at the entrance to the building,
are they not?
| Mr.. Wilson Of Florida. Right at the
| entrance. They are IN keeping with
| the lighting system that the city has
| recently installed. The revolving doors
seem to be necessary. because they
keep out rain and cold and storm. Now
! they have only swinging doors, some
! thing like those leading into this hall,
and while some items may appear to
! be ornamental, | will state to the gem
| tleman, though l am not an architect,
! L know personally that the building
will be left in a very unfinished con-
ditiOn unless we make this apprOpria-
ton, or at least some part of it; and
Furthermore, in the course Of a year or
two, l think it will undoubtedly be
realized that this work will have to be
done, necessitating the earring up of
the building again to sOr.e extent. At
this time all the officers have vacated
this building and are using rented
buildings in several parts Of the city.
This is an old building. 1t was placed
there some time in the eighties The
original appropriation OF 100000 must.
we think, be supplemented by this
amendment for 100000 more in order
to put the building ia proper condi-
ton. In fact. I know that it will be
unCOmpIeted unless we give this or the
greater part of it.
Mr. Foster. I will say to the gen
tleman that I think some OF these
items are really necessary and ought
to be allowed; but. on the other hand,
think there are a lot of these things
that are simply put in there as an ad-
ditional expense; that are not for the
good of the building or for the CON
veuienCe of the public or the men who
occupy the building.
Mr.. Wilson of Florida. Is the gem
tleman in a position to suggest the
amount which he thinks this appro-
priatiOn ought 10 be reduced on &C
count of that?
Mr. Foster. No. L will say to the
gentleman that 1 could not tell how
much that would be; but | want to
call attention to the fact that, in my
Judgment, we ought not to be allowing
for the extension of public buildings
and paying a lot of these expenses that
are unnecessary. l do not propose to
object to this but 1 think these mat
tiers ought not to be put n these pub
lie building bills, PROVIDE" for Orna-
ments, which, in my opinion, simply
make an expense to the government.
yield?
Mr.. Wilson of Florida. Yes.
Mr.. Madden. 1 understood the gen
tlemau from Florida to say-aithough
1 may not have understood him prop
erly-that part of this money viii be
expended for street Improvement.
Mr.. Wilson of Florida. oh, no; for
sidewalk approaches around the build
ing-not on the street at all.
Mr.. Madden. Not on the street?
-
street is thoroughly paved and lighted
by the city.
Mr.. Adair. Will the gentleman yield
to me?
MI. Wilson of Florida. Certainly.
Mr. Adair ] should like to ask a
question for information. There is no
law. is there, that provides that the
government shall pay any part of the
cost of street Improvement in front. or
on the side or rear of government
property.
Mir. Wilson of Florida. I think not
and We do not ask that the street be
improved.
Mr.. Adair. l understand that. I
am just asking for information. Is it.
the practice and policy al the govern
ment TO pay for sidewalks in front Of
federal buildings?
Mr.. Wilson of FlOria4. I understand
it has been the practice to do SO, but
there is some question about the right
tleman from Indiana that the city of
Pensacola will not build sidewalk
around this building. The sidewalk is
8 or feet in width and, as | stated a
moment go. the old sidewalk is alb
soluteIy worn out. | tn-nk it was put
there before I was born.
Mr.. Adair. l will say to the gentle
man that I think the government ought
to pay for a sidewalk around Il fed
cral post office building.
L. Wilson sNf FLORIDA ~
Mr.. Ndair. There is no reason. there
is no justice. and there Is no sense in
compelling city 10 pay for such an
Improvement to federal property. and
the government ought to pay for it.
Mr.. Foster. 1t has never been the
policy to do that.
Mr.. Adair. 1t is a bad policy not TO
do it.
is no law for it.
Mr.. Adair. The gentleman can not
assign a single good reason why it
should not be done.
AR Foster. 1t has been refused by
the department
Air Adair. For what reason
Mr.. Foster. 1t IS not the law.
AIr. Adair. 7 understood that there
is no law for 1t; but there should be
a law compelling the government to
build sidewalks around and in front
of its own property.
Mr.. Foster As ! say there is no law
for il and ought not to be. so that as
sessments could be made against gov
eminent.
Mr. Adalr. Then the government
ought not to build a federal building.
Mr.. Foster I think perhaps the
gentleman may be right about that in
some instances.
Mr.. Wilson of Florida. Mr.. Speaker
Pcnsa cola is not a village: it is a town
with thirty odd thousand inha hitants:
a very progressive town. Recently
The city has built mar< miles of side
walks an6 paved streets. This puoIIc