Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-24
.FAV0RS ENLARGEMENT
OF FEDERAL BUILDING
Chamber OF Commerce Denies An,
Change in Its Atti-
tude.
M'ADoO APPROVES REPORT

No. Steps Can Now Be Taken Until
Congress Meets, and Fears Are
Expressed That Whole Appropri-
alton May BE Lost to Richmond.
Emphatic denial was made yesterday
| mat the Richmond Chamber of Com
merce had or has any intention OF
reccdinS from it's position, strongly
! advocating the enlargement of the
present post office building, so as to
take immediate advantage OF the $3.50
ooo appropria ton for that purpose made
ut the last session of Congress. Sec
rotary OF the Treasury McAdoo ut his
Office in Washington earlier in the day
had approved the report of Assistant
| secretary Newton and John w. Rooms.
OF inc Post-Oil'ce Department. in which
u was recommended that no action be
I taken toward the purchase of the blair
property adjoining the post Office, to
/ provide ground for extending the pres
ent building. The effect OF the SOC
r"tary's action is to put this DEPART
mcnt on record rs fnvorIn- an cntIrcl,-
| new site for the Richmond post office.
In connection with Secretary McAdoo's
action. which had been forecast for
| several weeks. dispatch from Wash
inEton TO an afternoon newspaper
stated that the Treasury Department
has been advised that the Chamber
strongly for adding TO the old build
ing, has recently passed rcsolutions
. leaving 1t to tho discretion Of tho
Post-Oftice and Treasury Departments
! "hcrc 70 erect new building"
WITHOUT FOUNDATION AND
INCORRECT, SAYS DAHNcY'
inns statement as to the reputed
chanEe in the attitude OF the Chamber
was declared without foundation and
absolutely Incorrect by w r. Dabncy
business manager of the Chamber OF
Commerce.
Not only will the Chamber maintain
the attitude which it adopted at the
start ana which has received strong
Endorsement, but II will continue 70
support the efforts Of Senator Martin
senator swanson and Conrressman
Montague 10 secure the expenditures
~ the appropriation in the manner
contemplated by Congress when tho
p,u was passed. Mr.. Dahney made 1t
plain that there would be no lct-un
In tho present plans OF the Chamber
IN regard to the post-otiice approrria-
ton until the Virginia senators and
Mr. Montague should advise to the
contrary
justified by thorough investigation
at this end and by the status OF Tho
s'oo,ooo appropriation. which was
MADE Tor the specific purpose OF en-
Iarging the present post-oflice." said
MT Daoncy An Investigation and
impartial consideration Of the circum-
stances connected with recent develop
hehtS VIII probably command the an
prevail OF the Chambers position
which has already been indorscd bv
the Clearing House Association or
Richmond. the Tobacco Exchange ana
tho Grain Exchange. The action '' or
the directors OF the Chamber was ratt
ned by mass meeting OF its members
oN an overwhelming majority after
arguments on both sides OF the pro-
position had been heard.
MAY LOSE WHOLE OF
EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION
In the opinion of tho chamber therc
- grave danger Of losing the $4,000
rs nm emergency augmentation n ,ny
amendment is undertaken looking -
the transfer of this money to he e,
pended otherwise than for the enlarge
incnt or the present post-onlce The
chamber OF Commerce brought tho
congressional committee TO Richmond
so that its members might sec the CON
ditions for themselves. At that time II
was declared an emergency existed he
cause of conGcsted conditions in Tho
post-ofiicc, and TO relieve the situation
as speedily az possible the recommen
datlon Tor the appropriation of $3.50. 600
as an emergency was made The cham
l.
tude. is acting in entire good faith and
for what it believes to be the best in
tcrests of Richmond and its people. 1t
has no other interest in view"
The action Of Secretary McAdoo in
approving the recommendation against
the use OF the $4,000 for the enlarge
ment OF the present post office means
that nothing more can be done toward
securing additional facilities for tho
post-ofIice at Richmond until the next
session of Congress, beginning in De-
ccmbcr. During his visit In Richmond.
Assistant Secretary Newton is quoted
as saying that the Treasury Depart
ment would not be able to undertake
the erection OF n new post-of1ice build
ing, should an appropriation be made
for this purpose, until 1921, because of
tho large amount of such work already
schedulcd. In the meantime if the
emergency appropriation is not used
for charging the present building, the
rental of outside quarters for several
of the departments of the post-offlce
will be the only means by which tho
congestion may be relieved.
N'ADoO NOTIFIES
CONGRESSMAN MONTAGUE
Secretary McAdoo Yesterday notified
the Virginia senators and Congressman
Montague that he would not approve
the purchase OF the Blair site, but will
recommend that another site be bought
and a new building constructed Sena-
| tor Martin, Senator Swanson and Con-
gresham Montague have stood by the
| Chamber of Commerce and other COM
mercial organizations of the city who
! favored the utilization Of the emerg-
cncy appropriation for the enlarge
ment of the present post office, and
| they may refuse to support an amend
ment to the bill so that the $45000O
or so much thereof as may be ncces-