The Washington times., 1918-01-31
FREPROOFED
RECORD HALL
GREAT NEED.
SAYS MERCER
BY BILL PRICE

~ litdH NUbFN OhEANeEAcANA -S~N
prints were left all over this city is
visiting Washington after an absence
Of four years As he looks around
he wonders at the changes; gratifed
10 See the Federal Capital take its
Ieat place as the center of the world
he is former Congressman Dave"
Metcer. of Omaha. Neb., still an i'm
portant political figure in that state.
! lie was in Congress ten years, and
they were years of Importance to this
city, to which he was a genuine
friend. still remembered for his liber-
aliy by citizens who worked with
hinf for betterment and beauty.
Mr.. Mercer was chairman for many
wears of the powerful House Com
mitfee on Public Buildings and
Grounds, and these were the days
when that committee framed appro-
pri&tion bills running all the way
from $35,O00, 900 to $5O.OOO, 900. He
was the autocrat OF the committee,
and Senators and Representatives had
10 20 to him to get public buildings
in cities and towns OF their States. He
was likewise Rn influential member
OF the House Committee on the Dis
trict Of Columbis, where he partici-
pated in framing legislation that is
still enforced here.
Planned District Building.
il was as chairman OF the Com
miIsee on Public Buildings and
Grounds, though. that he did most fo-
Washington. He put in the first ap.
preparation tor preparing plans for
the beautiful District building, op-
posite The Times, and later the full
appropriation. Up to that day the
District government had been housed
in an old brick building at 462 Louis
lana avenue, and the Police Depart
ment was In the adjoining building.
The Health Department was located
elsewhere.
The District Commissioners had
made frequent appeals to Congress
for a new building, but had no sue
cess until Mercer listened to them and
to citizens who aided. Mercer agreed
upon the present site of the District
building. 1t had been the site OF the
power house OF the Capital Traction
railway, and after the building was
destroyed by fire the ruins continued
20 6s-ansigbty. Mercer had the Gov.
eminent NFay the Capital Traction
Company $500. 900 for the site, and the
;otal appropriations for the present
District building were 100000 ad-
Gitional in round numbers.
That the building has added to the
!, 5eauty OF Washington is everywhere
4 recognized. It was completed and
occupied in July. 1908:
Also Boosted Library.
The Public Library building, at
Ninth and X streets. is another monu-
j ment to Mercer. Others are the new
Bureau OF Engraving and Printing.
the Bureau OF Standards on Pierce
, Mill road, near Connecticut avenue
md new Agricultural Department
buildings. lie always favored a hall
of records in Washington, and the site
FOR such a building, now occupied by
the new Interior Department building.
vas secured while he was in Con-
xTess
He once agreed to provide 81 900. 900
for =. Department Of Justice building
IN Pennsylvania avenue, opposite the
Treasury. upon which is now to be
BUILT. at a cost OF more than that, an
addition to the Treasury, connected by
subway with the Treasury Depart
ment. Attorney General Griggs lost
80 much time in considering plans
hat Mercer changed his mind, and the
department is still in a rented build
ing on X and Fifteenth streets.
The Pennsylvania avenue lot was
formerly the site Of the old Freed
mems Bank, and the building was
long used by the Department of Jus
lice. II became unsafe, and the De-
partment moved out. the building be-
ing torn down by the Government.
Grant Monument His Project.
1t was nearly fifteen years ago that
Iercer put through Congress an ap-
preparation OF 81 10000 for a statue
to Gen. L. s. Grant. There were in
ierminabIe delays in erecting this
monument TO the memory OF the
;reat Federal chieftain 0f the civil
war through pickering as to where
it should be located. Even after an
agreement was reached to place il in
ihe east end OF the Botanic Garuen,
at the foot OF the Capitol Grounds.
The pickering continued. The actual
work, begun years ago. was retard-
ed for one reason or another. but the
reformation today is that this monu-
Inent to Grant ought TO be ready for
dedication within about six months.