The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-01-23
SENATE OPPOSITION
Is NOT EXPECTED
Red Tape Would Postpone
Acquisition Of Building
Several Years

The prospects now seem good for
Mt. Vernon getting a public building
to house the post Office.
The omnibus bill, which carries an
appropriation for Mt. Vernon of
$40, 600, passed the house Friday even
ing. 1t is yet to be acted upon by
the senate but, it is thought, will not
meet with serious opposition in that
body. 1t will then be up to the presi-
dent to approve or veto.
In the item OF $4,000 for Mt. Ver-
non. the amount covers both the cost
of the site and the building.
In the early part Of 1915, Congress
= man Ashbrook introduced a bill pro-
Viding for public building for this
city. 1t carried an appropriation of
$4,000 for site and building. 1t was
too late in the session TO be reached
for action.
Shortly after the opening of the
first session of the present congress,
gressman Ashbrook, and remained in
the hands of the committee unreDort-
ed, action Of the committee being de
ferred so as to include it In an omni-
bus bill-a bill providing for similar
buildings in many cities and towns.
When this bill was whipped into
shape by the committee, it carried so
many appropriations for buildings for
small towns that II encountered the
opposition of Congressman Ashbrook.
He was I'm favor of building for Mt.
Vernon and desired his bill for that
purpose put before congress by itself
and stand on its own merits without
hooking It up with the appropriation
for buildings for small towns.
This the committee declined to do,
and AshbroOt opposed the omnibus
bul and voted against It's passage Fri
day night
Under the provisions of the bill an
entirely new system is provided for in
me erection of federal buildings. A
new bureau is created in the treasury
department composed of three com.
missioners. They are to divide the
cities and towns of the country into
classes based on postal receipts,
Buildings In each class will be Of the
same type. In all instances the struc-
lures will be plain and devoid OF or.
nate architecture. The, buildings, In
all cases, will be In form what Is
known as the factory type, and Will
be adapted only for the use to be
made of them. II there be other use
of building than for post Office
provision viii be made for such use
The buildings will also be so designed
that additions may be built to them
in case conditions demand It, thus
maintaining the original structure I'M
impaired.
After the new bureau in the trea
sury department is organized ant
plans prepared for buildings for tn,
several classes, the work of acquiring
sites and erecting buildings will pro
coed as fast as funds are available un
der the appropriation.
In acquiring site. the government
will first invite citizens who are will
ing 10 sell land for the purpose to in
-dicate the fact In writing. Upon re
oeiving these proposals. government
agents will make personal inspection
~ the several pieces OF ground ant
make up list OF the lots that woult
bo acceptable for the purpose. Tn
mart step will be for the governmen
TO invite proposals from the owner
Of the acceptable tracts to state form
ally. in writing, the amount of none
Tor which they will be willing TO dee
their land to the government. Afte
a deed is acquired, work will the
>roceed to erect the building.
As the bureau above referred I
has TO be organized and perform
great deal of preliminary work to ge
the new system into operation an
then acquire and construct the builC
ings. IT is quite probable that it wi
be several years before the Mt, Vel
non post office is housed in govern
ment-owned building.
--asa=zas..s--.--a-.sAs'