The New York herald., 1922-01-26
APPROVES REMOVAL
OF N. Y. POST OFFICE
House Committee Votes Unani-
mously to Report Joint
Resolution.
Special Dispatch to TIE New York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,

Special Dispatch to TIE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. C., JAM 20.
BY unanimous vote the House Com
m;ttee on Public Buildings and Grounds
reported favorably to-day the joint res
olution authorizing the Government to
negotiate with the city of New York for
the removal of the New York Post Of
flee from City Hall Park to site in
the civic center.
Before the bill was acted upon the
committee accepted an amendment pro-
posed by Postmaster-General Hays and
approved by President Harding, which
provided that the negotiations be placed
in the hands of commission composed
OF the Postmaster General, the Attor-
ney- General. Secretary of the Treasury,
Secretary of Commerce and Secretary
Of Labor.
Representatives of civic organizations
OF New York appeared and urged the
approval of the resolution. The New
York delegation in the House also sup
ported the measure.
It was brought out during the hear
ing that the commission to be appointed
will have no other powers than to ar
range for the swapping" of sites.
RossdaIe Explains Status.
Representative Rossdale On. YO. au-
thor of the joint resolution. told the
committee there was practically no op-
position to the deal in New York. He
eaid the present post office site adds to
tha congestion, and the removal OF the
old building would eliminate an eye
sore.
Technically the site on which rs To-
Gated the Post Office belongs to the city
of New York." Mr.. Rossdale said. "as
II was given to the Federal Government
in 1868 as q location for a post oftice
and n Federal court, with the under-
standing that it was to be used solely
for that purpose. 1t was specifically
stated that in the event the property
is used for any other purpose it reverts
to the city Of New York. 1t has been
used for all sorts of other purposes, but
New York does not want 1t on that
basis. We are willing to give to the
United States all the land which may be
required for its Federal buildings at
much better location"
Henry c. Brown. representing a large
number of prominent citizens of New
York. urged the transfer largely on sem
timental grounds. He pointed out that
the City Hall Park is practically all that
is left of the old Dutch settlement in
New York. and for that reason the pco-
pie of New York are anxious to have
the park cleared of all distractions.
Many Urge Favorable Action.
Raymond B. Ingersoll, representing
the City Club of New York, pointed out
that no private concern could afford to
maintain building like the Post Office
on such valuable site.
Arthur NJ. Travers, speaking for the
New York Merchants Association, de-
cIared that the press of pedestrian traf-
fic around the Post Office has caused
trampling and desecration of graves Of
revolutionary patriots in ST. Paurs
churchyard.
From an architects point OF view B.
Everett Wade, representing the New
York Chapter of the American 1nsti-
tute OF Architects, pointed out many ad-
vantages to be gained by the proposed
change.
Representatives Cochran and Mills
urged favorable action on the rcsolu-
tion.