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ing houses, and Chinese laundries.

This state of affairs, I am glad to say, will soon be remedied. Congress has determined that the Capitol shall be approached by an avenue commensurate in dignity with its importance. Senator Smoot, who has such a clear conception of the future possibilities of Washington, has taken the lead in this work; and he has been ably seconded by Senator Swanson, Senator Bruce, Congressman Elliott, Lanham and others. An appropriation of $50,000,000 has been made, supplemented last winter by an additional $25,000,000, and other amounts will be forthcoming as the work progresses. The amounts already appropriated will be used to initiate the most important features of the plans for Washington's development, with special regard for the Mall and for improving Pennsylvania Avenue.

The Secretary of the Treasury was authorized to use this money in the purchase or condemnation of land and the erection of public buildings. It is intended to carry through, as rapidly as possible, the most pressing needs as regards housing of government departments and activities. These will include a new and larger building for the increased activities of the Department of Commerce; a Supreme Court building; a building for the Bureau of Internal Revenue; an Archives Building; a building for the Department of Agriculture; still another for the Department of Labor, and several others besides. One of these buildings, that for the Supreme Court, will be placed on Capitol Hill for reasons already given; but, as regards the others, advantage will be taken of this opportunity to group them together in such a way as to contribute in the greatest measure possible to the beauty of Washington. The placing of these buildings is a great responsibility, for on the proper determination of this question largely hinges the future development of Washington.